Helen Little was on what she thought was just another routine missions trip when she landed in Haiti on Jan. 11. Instead, the 79-year-old Clayton resident ended up in the midst of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and the devastation it wreaked on the western hemisphere’s poorest nation.

Little has devoted the past 23 years of her life to ministering to the people of Haiti. She has helped build an orphanage, seven schools, five wells, and numerous churches and homes. Her most recent trip was her 47th sojourn to the nation. This time, she was accompanied by a team of 48, whose purpose was to complete some construction, distribute clothing and shoes and hold medical clinics in four communities. But as Little sat on a school bus making its way down the dusty roads toward her team’s camp in Cazeau, a small community just outside Port-au-Prince, the trip became anything but routine.

“We had finished the clinic for that day and returned to base camp located at Cazeau, driven in the yard and backed into the parking space. The driver had not cut the engine,” she said. “It was very unnerving, sitting on that bus when the ground began to shake and bounce us all around, but the worst part was when we got off.”

According to Little, it was a sight she will never forget.

“We stepped off the bus and were just surrounded by hurt and dead people,” she said.

“We could see a big cloud of dust coming out of Port au Prince. It was a different experience. I’ve had a lot of different experiences in my life, but this one was certainly unique.”

Little and her team did what they could to help the wounded, but their food and medical supplies were quickly used up.

“We had nothing to do good with, and once our food and medical supplies were gone, we became a liability,” she said. “When I could finally get a message out, I just said, ‘We need help.’”

Heeding the call

Back at home, Little’s message was received and responded to overwhelmingly. The North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church partnered with local churches in a donation drive that exceeded all expectations. Little’s church, Horne Memorial United Methodist in Clayton, was a part of that drive. So much was collected that more space was needed. The owners of Carolina Graphic Printing in Clayton, who are also members of Horne Memorial, offered up their warehouse space to use as the collections epicenter. Around 50 volunteers helped out each day, sorting and packing donations. Dave Park of Fuquay-Varina was one of the hundreds of volunteers who devoted their time at the warehouse. He saw Little in some of the local news coverage, and after hearing more of her story, knew he had to help somehow.

“I saw what she’s been doing for years, and I figured these folks knew how to get the aid where it needs to go. It’s very organized, and it’s all through volunteer effort,” said Park.

“It’s encouraging to see how people kick in when there’s a tragedy like this, even from a distance.”

Volunteers came from not only the immediate area, but surrounding states as well. One pastor from West Virginia devoted over a week to helping sort and pack boxes to be shipped. Throughout the course of their donation drive, the warehouse collected nearly 40 tons of supplies.

Some of the supplies, mostly medical related, have already flown out of the Johnston County Airport to smaller air strips in Haiti. The rest will go to the MERCI Center in Goldsboro to await shipment to Haiti.

Kellie Baker, who attends church in Knightdale, volunteered her time throughout the week to help at the warehouse. Baker has gone on several missions trips through her church and had been planning to go to Haiti in June.

“It really puts things into perspective,” she said. “You think you have problems, and something like this happens, and you realize just how fortunate you really are.”

Little knows firsthand how fortunate she is. She and members of her team finally secured a flight back to the United States days after the quake, but her thoughts and efforts remain focused on those left behind. Ever since her return, Little has kept busy, sorting and packing up supplies to ship to Haiti.

“I don’t want to be thinking anymore, I just want to do what I can,” she said. “I did enough thinking that night [of the earthquake], when I was looking out over the sea of people.”

Since returning home, Little has been astounded by the response from the local community.

“I never would have dreamed there would be such an outpouring of assistance,” she said. “I’ve been trying for years to bring Haiti into the public eye, and here it’s happened overnight.”

Unfortunately, it’s come at a heavy price. And no one knows that better than Boaz, the young man Little has been sponsoring in Haiti for over 20 years.

Boaz was scheduled to graduate from university on March 25, but his school now lies flat, with many of his classmates lying dead in the rubble. Boaz survived the earthquake, but was left with nothing but the clothes on his back.

“These were students who were becoming equipped to help their country, who were preparing to be in leadership roles in Haiti – and they died in those buildings,” said Little.

Out of the ashes

After the dead have been buried and mourned, the country of Haiti faces the huge task of rebuilding. Volunteers from this area and around the world have stepped up to offer relief to the nation, from doctors and nurses providing much needed medical assistance to rescue teams digging survivors out from the rubble. And as soon as she is able, Little plans to be back in their midst with as many supplies as she can manage, continuing the work she’s devoted decades to.

“What we are giving them is hope, by continuing to go back,” she said. “They will know they’re not forgotten. These are our neighbors, and we have ignored their poverty and we have ignored their needs for so long – and now they’re not being ignored.”

How you can still help

According to Little, there are still needs that need to be met. She says the greatest needs now are food and water, shelter from the elements (tents, blankets, etc.) and medical care. And as always, monetary donations are welcome.

Horne Memorial, which helped build and support the Ryan Epps Children’s Home in Haiti, has plans to expand the current facilities. The institution currently rents a building to house 10 children, but the new plans will combine a church, school and dormitories capable of holding 170, 180 and 32 people, respectively. To learn more about how you can help make the new children’s home a reality, visit www.hornememorial.org.