Canadian staff member Crystal Penner found herself in the middle of the emergency unfolding in in Haiti.

Crystal Penner was three hours outside of Port-au-Prince conducting a emergency-preparedness workshop when the massive earthquake struck on January 12. After the tremors subsided, she was able get this call out via the Internet from a World Vision regional office.

Back in Toronto, Dave Toycen, president of World Vision Canada, made the following statement immediately after the quake struck.

“We have just received news that a powerful earthquake has hit off the coast of Haiti. World Vision staff are on the ground working to launch an immediate response as the damage continues to be assessed.

Our priority is to reach children and their families who may have lost homes, access to food and even loved ones. Our office has been damaged, as have the homes of some of our staff, but we are thankful that work can continue to reach those most affected.”

Please make a donation to help those in Haiti.