Message From the President

We have just completed our financial statements for 2009 and our Administrative costs are only 1.7% of our income, most of these costs were covered by donors especially wanting to pay for admin costs. Running a business or a charity always presents the challenge to produce results with as low an overhead as possible so we are really pleased with this result. We have so many people who volunteer their expertise to do what is needed, we do not have an office nor do we have a large paid staff in Canada, volunteers carry the freight here! We say a big THANK YOU to all those who help us from day to day to keep our costs down.

The earthquake of January 12 changed Haiti forever and it has changed what GLA is all about. We are learning to operate as a relief agency, shipping and now delivering items so badly needed by those who lost everything. Rice, canned meats, dried foods, clothing, tents, tarps and tools are being given out with the help of the town elders and other Haitian agencies in the area.

Today our efforts continue as we provide food, clothing and shelter for these thousands of displaced people. We seem to be the only agency ready to provide relief to the people in Kenscoff, Callebasse and other towns up on the ridge south of Petionville. Six containers of supplies have been sent from Colorado and six from across Canada. A seventh is being prepared in Halifax and should ship in August.

We have just over 70 children as of mid July and it won't be long until we are full to overflowing again and the need to build will be pressing. We are reviewing our plans to make sure the building designs are quake proof and hurricane proof before we start to build.The land is ours, the wall is complete and 2 service buildings are complete. (no quake damage at all). In 2010 we hope to have the footings and foundations in for the Guest House and have the walls going up too. Raising the money for this will be a challenge and we will need volunteers of construction-type men for electrical, plumbing, cabinetry and finishing sometime next winter.

It costs only $35.00 per square foot to complete this project, with every gift of $35.00 per month, we are one square foot closer to a new home for these children. The need for this new facility is pressing as we have new children coming to us every week and the process for adoption in Haiti has been moving very slowly. I urge you to prayerfully consider what you can do for the orphans.

Thank you for visiting our sight and may God bless you as you partner with GLA Canada in saving the lives of children in Haiti.

Sincerely,
Glenn Thamer,
President, GLA Canada          (July 15, 2010)