Top state officials join grain bins for Haitians effort

An effort to use converted grain bins as shelters for homeless Haitians will get a boost from two top state officials.

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey will co-chair an effort to raise $300,000 for the “Special Delivery: Homes. Help. Hope. For Haiti” campaign.

The campaign, which is run by the Iowa Food & Family Project, has a goal of delivering 48 of the homes - called SafeTHomes by builder Sukup Manufacturing Co. of Sheffield - to establish a Village of Hope in Haiti.

Each home is 18 feet wide by 14 feet high and looks like the top of a capped grain bin with a pair of windows and a door. The homes are weighted to withstand 130 mph winds and have a water collection system.

Each home costs roughly $5,700 and is delivered with an additional $1,000 of high-protein food packets.

The food packets are being put together by the Iowa Soybean Association and include soy protein, rice, vitamin powder and dried vegetables.

The idea comes from Ken DeYoung, a farmer and pilot from Sheffield who founded the Global Compassion Network, who was inspired to help homeless Haitians after watching news coverage of the 2010 earthquake.

“I could send a check or I could get involved and do something that would truly make an impact,” DeYoung said during a Statehouse news conference where he was joined by others involved in the project. “I chose involvement. It's what Iowans do when people are hurting.”

Among them is the Rev. Wadsene Anouzar, who will help recruit families and run the village once it is established.

“Despite all the efforts that so many humanitarian rights organizations have deployed to help these people, they are still living a very miserable life,” Anouzar said.

Nearly 80 percent of Haiti's 10 million residents live in poverty and the country's unemployment rate exceeds 40 percent, according to figures provided by the Branstad administration.

“Nearly two years after the earthquake, more than 1.6 million Haitians remain in dire need of shelter, help and hope,” said Reynolds. “Working together, we can make a real and positive impact.”

People who are interested in learning more about the project or donating can find additional information at www.IowaFoodAnd Family.com . Donations can be mailed to Global Compassion Network, Attn: Special Delivery, 1066 440th St., Linn Grove, IA 50133.