More than a week later and we’re still struck by the devastation that occurred in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Estimates are ranging wildly, but many numbers say that over 100,000 people have died. 100,000 mothers, fathers, children, friends and grandparents. Many are still trapped in collapsed buildings. Many are waiting for medical attention for broken bones and lacerations in makeshift clinics and camps.

Thousands are mobilized to help on the ground. Millions are giving to help fund the agencies providing urgently needed food, water and medical supplies. While none on our staff are qualified doctors or search and rescue workers, we decided we do have one way to help.

Many of you have been emailing us asking (sometimes begging) us to bring back Spiced Apple Cider Smoke Juice. Its seasonal run was very well received. Well, now those of you that have been asking have a second chance. Spiced Apple Cider won’t yet be part of our regular line up, but we’ve mixed up one final batch and posted it for sale. You’ll notice the price has gone up $1. That dollar is going directly to help Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres)** The American Red Cross fund their operations in Haiti. And for each dollar of yours from this limited run, we’ll match it with one of ours.

Before the earthquake, MSF was operating 3 facilities in Haiti, all damaged during the earthquake. Since then, the staff on the ground has been treating patients non-stop with minimal resources while waiting for more personnel and more supplies. Their dedicated staff frequently leaves successful medical careers to help those in need. Right now, many are working 24 hour shifts just trying to keep up. You can learn about the efforts of Doctors Without Borders in Haiti** (and areas around the world) at their website and you may want to read over this article giving a point by point of what it’s like for their staff and those currently in Port-au-Prince.

While it may not seem like much, your donation can truly help. If you love the Spiced Apple Cider Smoke Juice, order a few bottles and we’ll take care of the rest. If you feel you can give more, please stop by either

Doctors Without Borders – Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

or

the American Red Cross

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the victims, the survivors, and all those who knew and cared about the countless mothers, fathers, children, friends and grandparents that are no longer with us.

My thanks to you and safe wishes,
Mark Smirniotis and the whole team at Johnson Creek

**Note: Doctors Without Borders, while expressing extreme gratitude, are unable to accept our company donation. They will continue to accept individual donations, and The American Red Cross have expressed an interest in using the money we raise through our Spiced Apple Cider sale towards their continuing Haitian operations. Thank you again for all your generosity!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 10:00 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.