UPDATE: Bon Secours collecting donations for Haiti relief efforts

Port Jervis, N.Y. — The Bon Secours Charity Health System, which includes Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, is coordinating relief efforts across the Bon Secours system on behalf of earthquake victims in Haiti. Working with Catholic Relief Services and other Catholic health systems, they are putting together a plan of action for providing relief support to Haiti, both in the short term and long term. On the short term basis, cash is needed. Bon Secours will immediately send $50,000 to Catholic Relief Services to begin relief efforts. In addition Bon Secours is accepting donations to its Mission Fund from employees which will be sent to Catholic Relief Services to support Haiti relief efforts. All employee donations up to $100,000 to the Bon Secours Mission Fun for the Haiti Relief Fund will be matched by Bon Secours. Outside donations to the Mission Fund are also being accepted and should be sent directly to: Bon Secours Mission Fund c/o Edward F. Gerardo Bon Secours Health System, Inc. 1505 Marriottsville Road Marriottsville, Maryland 21104 For the long term, the relief groups will be assessing the ongoing and longer range needs, including rebuilding efforts. As the needs are identified and this plan unfolds, Bon Secours will take action and keep its employees and the public up to date, but a second cash donation, equipment and supply donations are very likely. As part of its Global Ministries, Bon Secours is committed to helping people in need wherever they may be in the struggle to create a more humane world. This week’s earthquake striking Haiti was devastating, with much of the city of Port Au Prince demolished including the National Palace, National Cathedral, schools and government buildings.