Mr. Speaker, operation “10,000 hats for Haiti”, which my office contributed to by soliciting nearly 200 agencies, exceeded its goal by collecting 12,000 hats in all.
This operation is an initiative by the Fondation d'aide aux enfants orphelins du sida in the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul district of my riding.
The foundation operates Rainbow House in the suburbs of Port-au-Prince. Rainbow House is a shelter for AIDS orphans and it also provides help to many families.
The hats will help protect many partially or completely blind children and adults from the sun.
This operation was launched before the terrible January 12 earthquake. Its original purpose was to help children who have to walk for kilometres to get to school. Under the circumstances, it has become an even more essential relief initiative.
Many thanks to the Fondation d'aide aux enfants orphelins du sida.