City’s Catholic school network invites Haitians to ‘Lean on Us’

Linda and Tom Farley’s brood of four children, Charlotte Catholic High School senior, Kate, Holy Trinity Middle eighth-graders and twin sisters, Megan and Meredith, and St. Gabriel Catholic School fourth-grader, Caroline, have spent the past several days spreading the word among peers and SouthPark-area neighbors about providing unconventional support to struggling Haitians. Instead of hosting clothing or funding drives, they’ve decided to take a different yet equally helpful route, collecting used crutches, wheelchairs, walkers and canes, in desperate need as Haitian earthquake survivors begin their slow, painful recoveries.

The initiative, aptly coined project Lean on Us, was derived during family discussions while seated around the dinner table, said Linda Farley. “In the papers and the news (my children have) noticed different people going down to Haiti and offering means of help, and thought to themselves, ‘What can I do?’

“This was something different and beyond asking for financial donations.”

What they requested was the support of their schools and others in Charlotte’s Catholic school system; each was eager to participate in the donation drive.

“Right now all eight of the Catholic schools in (Charlotte’s) Catholic school system are involved,” said Kate, noting that the network of support not only includes her and her siblings’ schools, but St. Mark, 14750 Stumptown Road, in Huntersville; St. Patrick, 1125 ­Buchanan St.; St. Anne, 600 Hillside Ave.; and Our Lady of Assumption, 4225 ­Shamrock Drive, as well.

Now the Farley family and participating schools are petitioning for the community’s help.

Although the drive still is only in its infant stages, and it’s unclear how many of the requested items have been donated to date, Kate said she hopes for a strong donor turnout through the drive’s unofficial end, Thursday, Feb. 18.

“We would like to collect as many items as possible. There is, and will be, a huge need for these assistance devices,” she added. “It feels good to be helping.

“So far, everyone we’ve talked to has been willing to help, donating crutches and things they have in their attic or garage.

“We know that food and shelter are a priority, but these donations are also going to make significant differences too,” Kate said, noting many of the Haitians will undergo or already have had amputations as a result earthquake-related injuries, severely compromising their independence and mobility.

Kate said she hasn’t required crutches or other assistance devices, but ­sister ­Meredith’s recently sprained ankle prompted the need for crutches. “Our family is definitely donating those. We don’t need them anymore, but we know someone in Haiti will be able to use them.”

She’s hoping others in Charlotte will feel the same way about crutches or walkers that are now collecting dust in closets or cluttering attics.

Kate said even if families don’t own unused assistance devices, they’ll reach out to neighbors to see if they own either walkers, crutches, canes or wheelchairs, and are willing to donate.

“I hope people will at least check their closets, attics and garages and see if there is something they can donate to these people. Everything helps,” she said.

Because of Haiti’s financial instability, the likelihood of amputees affording prosthetics is slim to none, her mother added, noting that although the project is only just beginning, expectations for community support are high. Already an e-mail has circulated thorough the Catholic school community, she said, noting that over the snowy weekend she received several calls and e-mails from people willing to donate. “Everyone I have talked to has been over-the-top willing to help; it’s been really encouraging to see.”

With children in three of the eight area Catholic schools, it allowed Farley access to a network of support. “I guess you could say our family kind of got the ball rolling, but we have had a lot of people ready and willing to help us out getting this project off the ground,” she said, adding Lean on Us is not about her family, but what the community can do for the devastated country.

“It will be interesting to see where this goes, whether we collect 10 pairs (of crutches) or 100.”

For those willing to participate, Lean on Us is about providing long-term support. “Besides the (Haitians’) immediate needs, which are obviously important right now, this is about providing things they will need further down the line.

“When all of a sudden you are missing a limb, it’s hard to get around … and it will continue to be hard to get around, not just this week or next week.”

Knowing that the drive will help provide Haitians with better mobility is motivating and gratifying, Kate added. “This earthquake was really so devastating. Any way we can help is very rewarding. It’s good to know we’ll be helping change someone’s life for the better.”

Want to help?

To arrange a time to drop off crutches, wheelchairs, walkers or canes, contact Holy Trinity Catholic Middle Principal Kevin Parks at kparks@htcms.net.