Haitian Woman in Statesboro Launches Project to Help

STATESBORO, Ga. -- Claudia Batichon said she felt the need to do something to help the people in her native land. Batichon, working with her church and a local businesswoman, has launched an ambitious project to help Haitians return to everyday life after Tuesday's earthquake.

Batichon and her husband live in Statesboro, but both are from Haiti. Batichon said the first word came from relatives four days after the massive earthquake.

"The house collapsed. Everybody's out on the streets. There's no home... They don't have any water, any medicine, nothing. But they were alive," she said. But she still doesn't know if all of her family members in Haiti survived the quake.

Batichon, along with Pastor Travis Ivey of Abundant Life Worship Center and Statesboro florist Cheri Lance, came up with the idea of the Fresh Start Pack, a mesh bag filled with basic hygiene items that so many of us take for granted. The bags include items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, combs, shampoo, socks, towels, band-aids, tissues, deodorant, socks, and water bottles. They say the cost of each bag, including shipping, is $10, and the contents are tailored to fit the needs of men, women, children, and infants.

"Our desire here is to see that this is bigger than us, and how can we as a church, who our goal here is to serve our community, how can we mobilize our city? How can we mobilize our community, be a part of one united effort?" said Pastor Travis Ivey of Abundant Life Worship Center.

They say just one day after forming the project, they have collected enough money for 100 bags. Their goal is to send 100,000 bags to earthquake victims.

"Ten dollars for a Fresh Start Bag or $40 to help take care of a family of four, will have an impact on a family that you'll never meet. But it may have limitless blessings in their life," said Ivey.

For Batichon, this is how she's devoting her time until she can travel back to her homeland. "I just want to know that I made a difference. I didn't just sit and watch the TV," she said.

To make online donations for the Fresh Start Packs, you can visit the church's website. You can also mail your donations to: Abundant Life Worship Center, Fresh Start Pack - Haiti Relief, P.O. Box 2833, Statesboro, GA 30459. For more information, you can call Claudia Batichon at 912-531-2754. The church also has a Facebook page.

The church said all donations are tax deductible, and 100% of the funds will go to Haiti.