TAMPA, Fla. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — When Bishop Jim Pierce of Love Aflame! Worldwide and a team returned from Port au Prince, Haiti last week they had just one word to describe the most urgent need in that earthquake ravaged nation: TENTS! The team, consisting of five men from New York State, brought much needed food and medical supplies but the request for tents soon rose above all others. Florida residents and businesses can get involved!

Says Bishop Pierce: “The population is now living under scraps of cardboard and cloths that give some relief from the sun, but shortly the rainy season will be here and the people will be wet and cold. In their weakened state this will cause yet another round of sickness, suffering and death. And, I would want more than a roll of plastic for my family.”

In response to this need a grass-roots movement of churches is forming across all denominational lines. Various ministries are now banding together to collect tents for shipment to Haiti before rains hit the last week of March. So far tents are being collected from churches and individuals for delivery to regional centers in the states of New York, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina and Maine.

“This is how we can help people in Haiti in a practical way.” says volunteer coordinator Mark Swiger, “Just about every family in America has a tent in storage that will mean life or death to a family in Haiti.”

If you are a Church, individual or business in this area and would like to donate tents, the local collection site for this area is:

The River at Tampa Bay Church
3738 River Int’l Drive
Tampa, Florida 33610
Telephone: (813) 971-9999
Office hours: Monday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (EST); Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (EST).

HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW:

FLORIDA INDIVIDUALS: Mail or deliver your personal tent (3 man or larger) to the above collection site for delivery before March 23, 2010.

FLORIDA CHURCHES/BUSINESSES: Have Church members bring tents (3 man and larger) to a Sunday service (or workplace if you own a business) and then deliver the tents to the collection site listed above before March 23, 2010.

FMI and cash donations go to www.Tents2Haiti.org .

News Source: Tents2Haiti

This story was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2010 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.