Date: March 3, 2010
Contact: wandas@andrews.edu
Website:
Phone: 269-471-3632

WeCare Disaster Response has postponed its March relief trip to Haiti. The trip has been rescheduled for May 30-June 6, 2010. The original plan was to take a group of Andrews University’s students, faculty and staff to Haiti during the University’s spring break to provide aid and relief following the Haitian earthquake.
 
The decision comes following a travel advisory for U.S. citizens issued by the U.S. State Department and a request from the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists requesting all non-medical groups to refrain from serving in Haiti until the situation has improved. Based upon those two direct requests and the high priority of volunteer safety, WeCare Disaster Response voted to reschedule the trip for June, at which time it is anticipated the situation will have improved. “Safety to our volunteers must be our top priority, we do not wish to put anyone in harm’s way,” says Wanda Swensen, director of WeCare Disaster Response.

WeCare Disaster Response has not changed its focus with regards to the Haiti trip and will continue to move forward with plans to serve in Haiti. “I want to assure you that WeCare Disaster Response is focused on helping the people of Haiti and will make every effort possible to do so,” says Swensen.
  
WeCare is part of the Center for Youth Evangelism (CYE), a training and resource center for claiming, training and reclaiming youth and young adults for Jesus Christ headquartered at Andrews University. Past relief efforts organized by WeCare include aiding in the aftermath of the September 11 attack, the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, and most recently, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike recovery.