Tulsa Groups Helping With Haiti Earthquake Disaster

By Craig Day, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- From military men and women to missionaries, and fundraising: Oklahomans are stepping up to help with relief efforts in Haiti.

Joni Charette's son, Ian Erickson, is part of the 82nd Airborne's global response force which must be ready within 48 hours to be deployed anywhere in the world.

Right now, they're needed for earthquake relief efforts. They'll leave soon for Haiti.

"Hopefully, they can help find people. Hopefully help get them aid, help with the cleanup efforts, you've got a lot of young strong guys down there that can provide a lot of good physical, manual labor," said military mom Joni Charette.

The Wagoner native's deployment will last up to 90 days.

Along with the military, humanitarian groups from Oklahoma are also helping.

"Diabetes testing equipment, on the back wall I have wheelchairs," said Larry Biron, Rotary District 6110 indicating some of the supplies intended for Haiti relief.

The Rotary district 6110 medical supply network in Tulsa, which sends supplies each month to needy countries, just shipped 50 water purification systems to Haiti.

"You know, whenever there is a natural disaster, one of the first issues is always water," Biron said.

Those 50 water boxes can quickly purify the equivalent of 250,000 16-ounce bottles of water.

The Rotarian group has seen a big response from Oklahomans.

"The heart of the people of Oklahoma - they call this the heart of America - and it's truly the heart of the people. There's always support for everything we do," said Larry Biron, Rotary District 6110.

With more donations, they'll send additional shipments to Haiti - both water boxes and later medical equipment from their Tulsa warehouse.

As for military mom Joni Charette: "I worry and I'm proud of him – both, and I know he's in good hands; I know he'll do a good job."

She believes the humanitarian efforts will make a big impact, and she looks forward to her son's safe return.

Because there is such an immediate need for help, the Tulsa Chapter of the Red Cross is accepting monetary donations to help with earthquake relief. Just make sure you put Haiti relief on your check.

Oklahoma's Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Organization is also mobilizing volunteers to go to Haiti. And the Oral Roberts Ministry in Tulsa is also sending more than a half million meals to Haiti.

1/13/2010 Related Story: Haiti: Help Earthquake Victims Recover