A Mitchell’s Bay woman is busy packing for an upcoming vacation down south.
Megan Smith, 24, is not packing her five suitcases with bathing suits, margarita glasses or designer shades, she’s packing them with rice, tooth brushes, kids clothing and an assortment of other supplies.
Smith is heading to Haiti for the second year in a row to help out at the orphanage her friend Emily Hime runs in Port-au-Prince – the capital city of the country that was ravaged by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake back in 2010.
“They already didn’t have suitable housing to begin with, now they are even worse… it’s really sad,” she said. “It’s crazy what they live in… mud shacks, tents. I can hardly describe it, it’s in shambles.”
Smith said her friend Emily was asked to run the orphanage in Haiti, after the owner has passed away.
“She was up in the mountains and she eventually got the orphanage moved down to a more secure and a really, really nice place,” Smith said. “They have running water, when there is a bucket full on the roof, and they have electricity when the government turns it on and plumbing.”
Smith said she went last year around the same time and decided to use her vacation time to head down this year.
“I go out and help with the orphanage, there is a tent city a hop skip and a jump from her orphanage,” she said. “I’ll go there and distribute rice.”
Smith said she’s looking forward to the trip, which is being funded through a variety of fundraisers she held throughout the year, because she loves helping people.
“I love it,” she said. “I went to Ecuador when I was 19, when I was still in university. I’ve always liked volunteering and helping other people. I derive my happiness from making other people happy. It’s just something that I really enjoy.”
She added: “I get a lot of grief from people around here asking why don’t you help around in your community, there is lots of people in need here. There are countless organizations that I have volunteered for and helped with around here, but the need there is just insane.”
Smith said it is difficult to leave, knowing the difference she makes with the Haitian children.
“It’s hard because you know you are helping for the time being and I know I am making their life better for however long the food or whatever I bring them will sustain them,” she said. “I just like to go help and do what I can. If I can make their life better for a day, than that is good.”
Smith is leaving early Monday morning and is staying for nine days.
She is also travelling with Wallaceburg resident Shane Lee, who is also going to be helping out at the orphanage.
