A thank you from Doctors Without Borders

I was so touched today to receive a handwritten thank you note from the Hearts for Haiti contact at MSF and want to share it here since it is really for everyone who volunteered, donated, supported, promoted, and otherwise helped our project become such a great success.


The card reads, "Dear Victoria, On behalf of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), I want to thank you for all your generous work fundraising to support our organization. We are so honored you selected MSF as the beneficiary. As requested at the beginning all donations have been directed towards our operations treating the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Your efforts are helping us to respond to the emergency in Haiti by providing urgently needed medical care and humanitarian aid to thousands of vulnerable people. Please extend our gratitude to all those involved. Thank you for getting involved and for helping to make a difference. Kind Regards, Charlie Kunzer"

It's a simple gesture but somehow it really brought everything home for me. We really did do something monumental!

♥ Victoria

The Art of Compassion

Here is another great example of artists using their talent and generosity to help those in need through Doctors Without Borders.  (You can view the online magazine here.)

Fourth and final payment sent - $7,305.64

I'm so honored to finally be sending this fourth and final check to Doctors Without Borders. This experience. The shop closed in September and I just had the PayPal reserve lifted and the money transferred to the credit union account so at long last the rest of the money is on its way! Another $7,300--amazing!

♥ Victoria

Film: Etsy Hearts for Haiti, Movie Trailer

Grace & Mercy is a film about Haiti.  A film life admist destruction.  We follow 5 Haitians as they rebuild theirs and other fellow Haitian's lives.

A friend of mine is working with the film maker of this documentary.  This movie trailer is only 1:34 sec. long but powerful.  (Click the image, allow 1 minute to load).

Love and Peace, Sunny

Alert Article -Sept. 30, 2010 Haiti: Impact of Donor Support

ALERT ARTICLE | SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Haiti: The Impact of Donor Support

Among the large scope of MSF activities in Haiti, as of May 31, more than $14.6 million has been spent on surgical care for Haitians injured in the earthquake. At least $5.3 million was spent on maternal health services.

article located at Doctors Without Borders here

The Deposit Check will be posted soon

Victoria van der Laan our Etsy Hearts for Haiti founder emailed the Team members and said that she is happy to report that she will be able to post the final check for Doctors Without Borders as soon as the funds clear PayPal in Oct.    


If you have any questions you can contact Victoria directly by clicking "Main Shop Keep" or clicking the Contact Us button.


My name is Sunny, I'm the blog writer volunteer and I'll be happy to post your comments, photos, articles, and stories about your what you made for the HFH shop or what you purchased, or anything else you'd like to share with the other donors.


Again, thank you.

Sept. 14, 2010
A Message To The Donors From Sunny,
(HFH blog volunteer)

We did a great job everyone!!

I will be posting updates from the DWB news stories from Haiti as time goes on.

I know that not just hundreds -but thousands of you (2,641 of you to be exact) stood in line at the post office, some with children in tow, or took time off from your busy day to get to the post office to get those donated items into the mail on time.  You paid for postage and your took some of your finest shop items and gave them out of the generosity of your heart.  THANK YOU! Your donations brought medical supplies to many, many people desperately in need of them.

This blog will remain open as a reminder of what what accomplished when the hearts and hands of a global arts and crafts community joined together to help humanity in their time of need.

Comments always welcomed,
Sincerely, Sunny
HFH Blog Volunteer

The Etsy Hearts For Heart Shop is now closed

HeartsforHaiti's Shop Announcement

September 3, 2010: Hearts for Haiti is now closed. Together our amazing community has raised $33,803.32 for Doctors Without Borders in Haiti!

Thank you to everyone who made this amazing effort possible!!

HeartsforHaiti is an Etsy collective of hundreds of Etsy shops who have generously donated items to raise money so we can assist the relief efforts in Haiti. 

100% of the proceeds from this shop (after Etsy and PayPal fees) go directly to Doctors Without Borders ( http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org ). They have given HeartsforHaiti permission to use their name, and separate PayPal and bank accounts have been set up to maintain the integrity of this shop.

BLOG http://etsyforhaiti.blogspot.com 
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/heartsforhaiti
TWITTER http://www.twitter.com/etsyforhaiti

Doctors Without Borders' twitter updates from Haiti at @MSF_USA

Update on Hearts for Haiti shop....

Some very good news:  The Hearts for Haiti shop has now raised *drum roll please* $33,525.73 (after fees) for Doctors Without Borders.  The shop is winding down now and when the last of the 100 or so items expire the shop will close.  I don't think any of us who were on the Volunteer team dreamed that so much could be done so quickly.  It was made possible because of the many, many generous donors.  Here's one beautiful example (above). -This item is still available!  

Mini Paua Abalone Sea Shell Earrings in Green and Gold $9.00 with free shipping.

This item was donated by cindylouwho2.etsy.com from 

Calgary Alberta Canada. All proceeds from this donation (after Paypal & Etsy fees) go to Doctors Without Borders to assist their work in Haiti. 

What? The HFH Shop Is Extinct?

"No way, our doors are still open!....come visit us!


But this is to let you know, that it looks like HeartsforHaiti.etsy.com will be stopping all new listings at the end of April, & shutting down at the end of August when everything has expired. 


Things start expiring in a few weeks, so if there was anything you wanted, now is the time to get it." (hint, free shipping!)

Two Colour Original Illustration of Nautilus.

copyright 2008, Dayna Gedney.

This is a handpulled silk screen, printed on quality, acid free paper, size 16"x20" using archival quality inks. Signed and dated at the bottom of the work. $40.00 US. (shipping generously donated by daynagedney.)


This item was donated by daynagedney.etsy.com from Toronto, Canada. All proceeds from this donation (after fees) go to Doctors Without Borders to assist their work in Haiti.

A Treasure Chest of Love

The Etsy Hearts for Haiti shop will still be taking your handmade arts and crafts (plus vintage and craft supplies) donations until the end of April 2010.  The Hearts for Haiti online Etsy shop will stay open and continue to sell the hundreds of goodies in stock. Come have a look  -the variety of donations from the talented members of the Etsy community is simply amazing! 

                 Flowering Fire - small glass treasure box








For all of your little treasures and secrets here is a hand painted lidded glass box. Dimensions:    3 1/4” x 4 1/4”. $34.00 us.
This item was donated by yevgenia.etsy.com from Brooklyn, NY US. 


All proceeds from this donation (after fees) go to Doctors Without Borders to assist their work in Haiti.


Etsy Treasury, "Buried Treasure", curated by Dee.

Let's be friends

Hearts for Haiti just joined Twitter!  Let's be friends! ♡ Go to:  http://twitter.com/EtsyforHaiti

"Enough Love For Everyone Fairy" Giclee print

This item was donated by wyanne.etsy.com from Amelia Island, FL USA. All proceeds from this donation (after fees) go to Doctors Without Borders to assist their work in Haiti. $16.00 us, shipping has been kindly donated by the artist.

Doctors Without Borders: Port-au-Prince / New York, March 30, 2010 –

UN Donor Conference: Given the Immense Needs, Haitians Must Have Continued Access to Medical Care  

"Since the January 12 earthquake, nearly all public and many private medical structures in the affected areas have offered healthcare free of charge. Recently, however, plans have been disclosed to progressively reinstate hospital fees as early as mid April.  Making access to health care contingent upon someone’s financial means would totally ignore the reality that we see in the streets and makeshift camps in Haiti,” said MSF emergency coordinator Karline Kleijer. “Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and live in rickety huts made of plastic sheeting, tents or ruined houses, with one latrine for a few hundred people on average. Shelter, hygiene, water and medical care remain a priority need. Short term humanitarian needs remain huge and unmet,..."  Read the article here.    

Collectible Lampwork Flower Implosion Marble

Above: Flameworked Pink Floral implosion marble made of borosilicate glass. Size: approx. 1.31" or 33mm round. Annealed in a digital kiln and includes a stand for your marble. $25.00.  Shipping has been generously donated by 
the artist.

This item was donated by jwinterbowerglassart.etsy.com from Lebanon, Oregon USA. All proceeds from this donation (after fees) go to Doctors Without Borders to assist their work in Haiti.

Your Donations Are Making A Difference

Quote from the Doctors Without Borders Website (03/12/2010)


"Currently, MSF ("Doctors Without Borders") has 348 international staff in Haiti working closely with over 3,000 Haitian staff. With the expansion of services, the 26 MSF hospitals and health centres can accommodate 1,346 inpatients. In the last two months, MSF teams have performed more than 3,700 surgeries, provided psychological counselling to more than 22,000 people, and treated 54,789 patients. MSF teams have distributed nearly 18,000 non-food item kits—including kitchen kits, hygiene kits, jerrycans, blankets, and plastic sheeting—and more than 10,000 tents."  


Go here to read the full article with photos: Haiti: Two Months After The Quake.

"Have You Heard?"

"The Etsy Hearts for Haiti shop is up to 2,533 sales so far!!  That's over $32,000.00 raised for Doctors Without Borders.  There's still 1,126 items up for sale....let's go!......

"A Pair of Ceramic Snails"
(Large snail is about 6 inches x 2.5). This item was donated by NomadClayworks.etsy.com from Paducah, KY, United States. All proceeds from this donation (after fees) go to Doctors Without Borders to assist their work in Haiti.  Donation price: $34.00 . (No charge for shipping! Like all of the items in the Hearts For Haiti Etsy shop, the shipping costs have already been donated for you.  (Note: this donor is offering US shipping only). ♡ 

Hop on over....

To see what's new in the Hearts for Haiti Etsy shop!  

♡

This item was donated by TheDecoratedHouse.etsy.com from USA. All proceeds from this donation (after fees) go to Doctors Without Borders to assist their work in Haiti.  Donation price: $13.00  (No charge for shipping! Like all of the items in the Hearts For Haiti Etsy shop, the shipping costs have already been donated for you. ) ♡  

Etsy Treasury curated by localcolorist titled: Joshua Bell and {Heart Felted}.

Hearts for Haiti Treasury by FiveSparrows

Here's a sample of the variety of handmade arts, crafts, supplies, and vintage items that Etsy shop owners have generously donated to the  Hearts for Haiti shop.

A Treasury is a collection of photos "curated" from items that are listed for sale by the Etsy community. This Treasury was curated by: FiveSparrows. (click image to enlarge). 

2010 Handmade Olympics - Silver Medal

With very exciting news.......

.....we won silver in rikrak's 2010 Handmade Olympics!!

The silver prizes are a $50 gift certificate to little bit of pretty and a $50 gift certificate to open stock party.

I've asked if we might be able to translate that into something to sell in the shop, perhaps the gift certificates themselves.

Great work spreading the word everyone and thank you for all your votes!

♥ Victoria

What Can $30,000.00 In Donations Buy Doctors Without Borders?

The Hearts for Haiti shop on Etsy.com just reached $30,000.00 in donations this week.  

Beberagz, an Etsy shop owner and a donor, asked a great question: "...It would be interesting to know what that amount of money will buy for Doctors Without Borders [?]". 


HFH Volunteer Colleen (aka FiveSparrows) wrote:  "I was curious after your comment beberagz -so i did some looking on the Doctors Without Borders website. This comes from their general page of where your donation goes": 
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/what.cfm 

$35 Two high-energy meals a day to 200 children 
$50 Vaccinations for 50 people against meningitis, measles, polio or other deadly epidemics 
$70 Two basic suture kits to repair minor shrapnel wounds 
$100 Infection-fighting antibiotics to treat nearly 40 wounded children
$250 A sterilization kit for syringes and needles used in mobile vaccination campaigns
$500 A medical kit containing basic drugs, supplies, equipment, and dressings to treat 1,500 patients for three months
$1000 Emergency medical supplies to aid 5,000 disaster victims for an entire month 
$5500 An emergency health kit to care for 10,000 displaced people for three months 

Then I did some number crunching:

Taking 30000 and hypothetically saying it would only go to help one of those items (just for the sake of visualization)-even though I am sure it gets split up into lots of places-this could translate into:
health kits to care for 50000 people for three months,
Or emergency medical supplies for 150000 people for a month, 
or medical kits with basic drugs and supplies to treat 90000 people for three months
Or 120 sterilization kits used in mobile vaccine campaigns
Or enough antibiotics to treat 12000 wounded children
Or vaccinations against meningitis, measles or polio for 30000 people
Or two meals a day for 171428 children

Pretty amazing results of how much 30000 can do!!"

(Image courtesy of HFH donation, title: "Best Friends" by PocketCarnival of Melbourne, Australia. Thank you!)

Interesting Photo

While Nora, HeartsforHaiti Volunteer, was in San Francisco over the weekend, she passed this mural on a shopfront on Union Street.

Apparently, we are not alone in using the HEARTS FOR HAITI name, nor in having the $$$ raised go to Doctors Without Borders.

This was a group of local merchants, accepting donations and/or offering a portion of proceeds. Their goal was $10,000 in 10 days. She wasn't able to find out how they did.