By Nate Smith
MONTGOMERY — For the past 10 years, the annual Haiti Benefit Supper and Auction has raised funds for the impoverished nation and its people.
For Saturday’s 11th version of the event, the help is needed more than ever as its organizers try to continue their work after a devastating earthquake rocked the island nation in January.
The benefit supper and auction will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Dinky’s Auction Center, CR 900E. The auction will start at 3 p.m. with a variety of donated items, including 20 quilts, comforters and baby quilts, furniture, crafts and other items. Jay Yagle will donate time to auction off the items.
Various churches in the community are donating their time and services for the auction, said Don Graber, one of the organizers of the benefit.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated,” Graber said. “It will be put to good use.”
The benefit supports two missions in Haiti, International Faith Mission and Blue Ridge. The two have been working nonstop since the 7.0-magnitude earthquake destroyed much of the country and left thousands dead.
Graber said Dale Wagler, one of the benefit’s organizers, is in Haiti now until the end of the month. Beverly Graber, Don’s wife, will also be going on a mission to help.
“(Wagler) said things are much worse than they even could expect or imagine,” Graber said. “The streets are now open and things are more congested than ever because of relief efforts.”
International Faith Mission provides nurses for three German doctors that run a clinic. The three have set up mostly in Port-au-Prince, the capital, since the Jan. 12 quake.
“They have been treating earthquake victims and a lot of follow-up care is required,” Graber said.
Blue Ridge provides education and support. Since the missions have started, the literacy rate in the country has almost doubled.
“When I first started going down to Haiti, the literacy rate was around 23 percent,” Graber said. “It is now 54 percent. That is attributed to the missionaries.
“We can see a vast difference in the people being under the influence of the missions. They know that if they work hard and save, they can have something for their efforts.”
The event raises a significant amount of money for the two missions, Graber said, and because of the relief efforts, more money can get to the people who need it in Haiti as duties on imports have been lifted.
“That frees up more money that the missions can use,” Graber said.
But it all starts at benefits like the one this Saturday. It has grown tremendously since its inception 10 years ago, Graber added.
“I guess I thank everyone that has participated in the past,” Graber said. “It has grown and gained a lot of interest since then.”
