THE ROCKCLIFFE RETIREMENT RESIDENCE RESPONDS TO THE DISASTER IN HAITI

Initially we learned about the event as did most people, from the awful reports on television that had started to trickle in on January 12th, the day of the disaster. We were horrified, residents and staff alike. The disaster took on a special immediacy knowing that our chef, Josette Paul, had family in Port-au-Prince. On the following day, a giant pickle jar, duly cleaned and prepared by the kitchen crew, was installed at the reception desk ready for donations. They started pouring in immediately, quarters, looneys, tooneys, and five dollar bills. However, word of mouth consensus judged this measure to be insufficient given the magnitude of the event. The Rockcliffe could, and should, do better.

So better it shall be, we decided, and began to mobilise. An official Red Cross station was the way to go. First responder was Mrs. Joy Maclaren, no stranger to organising for worthy causes. Joy in no time had gotten in touch with a contact known to her at The Red Cross, and within two days we were in possession of an official blanket bearing the Red Cross insignia, the flag, the posters and the record sheets for income tax purposes. A call over the PA system requesting volunteers to man the station yielded 14 residents ready to take up their posts in the lobby. We sat around tables in the cocktail lounge and made up teams of two volunteers to cover the station at mealtimes, which we agreed was the best time to see the most people. Residents Dr. Bill Jeanes, Bill Van, Peter Martin, Marlis Blackstock, Syd Davie, Margaret Thomas, Marie-Josee O’Sullivan, Joy Maclaren, Bev Dewar, and staff in the persons of Activity Director Catherine Bourque and Executive Director Mary Albota, put their collective shoulders to the wheel and pushed. We had decided that every effort must be made to help neighbours in our own hemisphere, in effect the people down the street.

The response was astonishing! In a mere two and a half days we collected the sum of $23,400 which we proudly turned over to The Red Cross. By this time the Government of Canada had pledged to match the funds. As a community we were gratified and deeply happy that we were able to help in a substantial way to relieve the misery and suffering of our Haitian neighbours.

It is with great pride that I offer this small account of a group of people with generous hearts, motivated by kindness, decency and compassion, who joined together to help as best they could and thus make a difference. Such people are found at The Rockcliffe Retirement Residence, and I thank them.

Mary Albota RN., Exec. Director The Rockcliffe.

*Note: The pickle jar remains in its place at reception, and donations continue to be received.