February 24, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 In the wake of last month’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, many local residents have taken action to donate funds, clothing, and other supplies. Still others have braved the trip to the island nation to supply aid in person. Our Chance International: EMS Outreach recently sponsored a second team of emergency medical technicians who traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Members of this “Bravo Team” include Michael Migliaccio, 25, of Ramsey; James Gatti, 21, of Ramsey; Rourke Day, 24, of Andover Township; and Matthew Cady, 23, of Andover Township. The first team included Ryan Flaherty, 21, of Allendale; Matthew Elling, 24, of Ridgewood; and Migliaccio. Together, they participated in rescue and relief efforts from days 4 through 15 following the earthquake. The first OCI: EMS team sent to Haiti assisted in search and rescue, and provided EMS support under the supervision of the United Nations Fire & Safety Division, primarily at the United Nations mission headquarters at the Saint Christopher Hotel complex. They also set up field clinics in the Delmars 40 district and assisted at the University of Miami/Project Medishare field hospital. Flaherty and Elling assisted locating and rescuing the last survivor pulled from the Saint Christopher Hotel with the team from Virginia. Flaherty remained in Haiti to assist with logistics at the University of Miami/Project Medishare field hospital, while Elling and Migliaccio returned to New Jersey to organize a second team down. Elling and Sean Matro, 26, of Ramsey, remained stateside to coordinate shipping supplies and organize donations for the field teams in Haiti. The primary objective of the second EMS team is to assist at the University of Miami field hospital, work in field clinics they set up in Port-au-Prince, and bring medical care and assistance to residents of the city where there is no easy Local residents participate in Haitian outreach access to it otherwise. The OCI: EMS team plans to work with other non-government organizations in a coordinated effort as directed by the United Nations relief efforts. “We’re honored to be given the opportunity to help,” said Gatti, a former captain of the Ramsey Rescue Squad and a member of the Ramsey Fire Department. “We have the training and we are just happy that we will be able to put it to good use and help.” Local emergency medical services agencies have been very supportive of the OCI: EMS mission. The Ramsey Ambulance Corps, Upper Saddle River Ambulance Corps, Mahwah Company 4 Ambulance Corps, and Lakeland Emergency Squad have donated supplies and equipment to send to Haiti to assist in the relief efforts. “We’re very appreciative of the support we’ve received and the equipment that has been donated. These are all mission critical items that will help with relief efforts,” said Migliaccio. To help OCI: EMS, visit www.ourchanceint.org. Please specify that you are donating to the EMS Outreach program. All donations to the EMS Outreach program will go towards assisting the teams operating in Haiti, educational missions in impoverished regions of the world and future disaster response teams. Migliaccio and Gatti are both members of the Ramsey Ambulance Corps and the Upper Saddle River Ambulance Corps. Day and Cady are both members of the Lakeland Emergency Squad. Flaherty and Elling are both members of the Saddle River Valley Rescue Squad. Matro is a member of the Ramsey Ambulance Corps. Our Chance International: EMS Outreach is a child program of Our Chance International. OCI runs surgical missions to children in impoverished regions of the world. More information about Our Chance International can be found on their website. Volunteer Matt Watters noted that a large hospital called Villa, that was going to sustain the Mouliliage Fouquet Clinic split in half after the earthquake. “Students for Haiti has decided to redirect our efforts to rebuild the Villa Hospital,” The Ramsey resident reported. “Villa hospital services thousands more people a year than Mouliliage Fouquet could have. It will cost $70,000 to rebuild it. “I have worked with St. Boniface to find donors for about $20,000 of it. That means Students for Haiti’s new mark is 50,000. This decision takes root in Haiti’s need for sustainable help. There is a lot of attention on Haiti right now, but what will happen in six months when the AID groups leave? Rebuilding this hospital serves Haiti in the short term and the long term. Healthcare in rural Haiti is in greater need now more than ever. As thousands of Haitians flee Port au Prince and head into rural Haiti, into villages like Villa, this hospital is missed more and more. We are working to change that.” Watters and his associates were working on an effort they dubbed UniteD. “It includes the student government, gospel groups, dance groups, religious groups, and Greek life,” he explained. “I am confident that we can do this. We are working to raise the $50,000 as soon as possible, hopefully by the end of spring.” But STILL can’t lose that Tummy or Cellulite? Call me about VelaShapeTM A NEW Nonsurgical method of Fat reduction and body contouring • Non-invasive • No Anesthesia • No Downtime Beverly Dunn, MD Waldwick, NJ • 201-445-0032 Dieting? Working Out? 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