Bicyclists came to aid of Haitian children before the earthquake

Update: Orphanage funded by charity bicycle rides still standing

That's horrific news coming out of the earthquake zone in Haiti. It always seems that the regions least capable of sustaining a natural disaster are the ones hardest hit.

Millions are waiting to hear from friends, relatives and coworkers in the area hit by the 7.0 earthquake. Meanwhile, a group that funds a Port-Au-Prince orphanage with annual charity bike rides (see 6-minute video at right) got good news Wednesday morning.

Both buildings of the H.I.S. Home for Children are still standing and being patrolled, although a security wall fell down, according to reports in the Herald News in suburban Chicago.

The news came from Tony and Arloa Scott of Joliet, Illinois, who help support the orphanage through funds raised by a 300-mile annual bicycle tour. Last summer, 37 bicyclists raised $38,000 by riding from Joliet and Monticello, Illinois, to Harrod, Ohio.

The money helps pay for operations at the orphanage that houses 125 children up to age 13. There's a waiting list for the orphanage, where many children arrive ill and malnourished. The facility is operated by an interdenominational Christian ministry with members across the upper Midwest.

Our thoughts certainly go out to them at this time.

Kids foundation

Another bicyclist with strong ties to Haiti is Jesse Johnson, a Seattle-area man who rode his bicycle from Seattle to Miami in 40 days to raise funds and awareness for the children in that country where 80% live in poverty.

At the time, in 2006, he was chairman of the Haiti for Kids Foundation that raised money to  distribute vitamins and medical supplies to the country's children. His long-term goal was to develop new orphanages and improve living conditions.

I wrote about Johnson's feat in 2006, but can't find a working link to his foundation right now.

Donations

We all feel a need to donate, but by all means, be very careful about making donations to groups you are not familiar with. Scam artists come out of the woodwork to make a fast buck in these situations, and that's easier than ever on the Internet.

One of the most trustworthy should be the American Red Cross, which immediately released $200,000 to the International Relief Fund.

Follow the link below:

More charities accepting donations are listed at the CNN.