Ken DeYoung, co-founder of GoServ Global, was with his mission team in Haiti on Saturday, Aug. 14 – the day a 7.2 earthquake struck the southwest part of the country that killed more than 2,000 people and injured in excess of 10,000. According to GoServ Global Executive Director Paul van Gorkom (based in Eagle Grove), at approximately 7:30 a.m., DeYoung was out on the balcony of his house enjoying a cup of morning coffee when things started to shake around him. DeYoung told van Gorkom “I thought, should I jump, or ride this thing down?” He looked below him and saw his car moved six feet from their original location. Luckily, he was okay, which allowed him and the GoServ team to immediately begin offering assistance in whatever way they could. Twenty minutes later, more terror when a 5.2 aftershock took place.
“This one really hit home,” said van Gorkom, explaining that the epicenter of the earthquake was only 25 miles from where GoServ operates.
The good news was that after surveying the area, DeYoung noticed that every Sukup Safe T Home® within sight was still standing and in good shape. In all, GoServ Global has built more than 380 Sukup Manufacturing Safe T Homes® for families in need in Haiti since the devastating 7.0 magnitude quake that struck in 2010. The buildings have been a refuge, providing housing, schools, clinics…and they withstood the winds of Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and now the earthquake of 2021.
The day after this devastating earthquake (which was reportedly felt more than 200 miles away), DeYoung flew his own airplane from Haiti to Fort Lauderdale and they loaded it up with as many medical supplies as they could buy and fit back in the plane. Then they turned around and headed directly back to Haiti where they distributed the much needed aid.
DeYoung left Haiti again on Monday, Aug. 16. At that time, there were still aftershocks being felt every 30 – 40 minutes. But that isn’t why he left. Instead, he returned back to Iowa to collect the many supplies and cash donations generously given to the Eagle Grove GoServ Global location during a drop-off collection they organized.
“It was just doing what typical Iowans do when there’s a disaster,” said van Gorkom of GoServ organizing the collection so quickly.
He was humbled by all those who came and brought food, water, cash…and all those from afar who have made monetary donations to their Haiti relief efforts. In addition to these supplies, GoServ also has six Safe T Home® ready to be shipped to Haiti. There are 60 more on order that they hope will be done and shipped by late October or early November. While DeYoung left last Friday with the supplies on his plane, van Gorkom said more donations of supplies will be accepted locally and can be shipped when the Safe T Home® are shipped at a later date.
“What they really need (in Haiti) are monetary donations,” van Gorkom pointed out.
He explained that in Haiti, they are required to prepay for medical care. That means that many of the injured after the earthquake are still left untreated as they can’t afford help. Van Gorkom is pleased to say that one of the Haitian directors from GoServ Global has been signing IOUs so the most desperate can get help. GoServ then sends him the money so he can pay the bill.
Another item Haitians are in desperate need of are tents. With so many buildings destroyed by the earthquake, many people are sleeping outside, on the ground, and getting rained on. Those that do have any form of home left, other than a Safe T Home® don’t want to go back inside for fear it will crumble when another aftershock occurs.
Of course, the ultimate goal is to keep sending more and more Safe T Homes® to Haiti as they have proven to be the safest form of housing in a country that has faced several natural disasters over the last 11 years.
“People who get these Safe T Homes® will never have to build again,” said van Gorkom.
If you would like to make a donation of food, water, tents, medical supplies, etc., you may drop them off at GoServ located at 310 E Broadway St, Eagle Grove. Leave them on the table at the front entrance. If you would like to make a cash donation in person, please deliver them to the office on the second floor of the building. You may also give online: www.goservglobal.org/give click on "Haiti Relief."
GoServ Global is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization that was founded in 2011 to care for and support both the physical and spiritual needs of those impacted by humanitarian disasters around the world. In the U.S., GoServ Global provides immediate response to natural disasters bringing hearts and hands to help victims heal from damage to property and spirit. Internationally, GoServ Global responds to emergency situations then identifies opportunities to create lasting solutions for long-term humanitarian needs. Their mission is to respond to natural disasters, empower sustainable community development and to provide opportunities for people to be world changers through hands-on involvement.
