One year ago Wednesday, a devastating earthquake rocked Haiti, killing more than 230,000 people and leaving the nation in ruins. Relief poured in from all over the world, including the Grand Strand.
Though much of the devastation remains today and more than a million people still live in tent cities, Grand Strand volunteers say, there is also reason for great hope.
Rev. Jim Evans of the Barefoot Church in North Myrtle Beach has led many relief missions. He says it can be discouraging to see how little has changed in a year.
"It's frustrating to me at the inability for large organizations to really accomplish things at the grassroots level," said Evans, who leads the church's Care Team.
Evans said when Haiti recovers, it won't look like what we think of as prosperity.
"I believe it looks like a safe place for people to live, a government that protects people so they can go about their lives and increase business and things like that."
Though it'll take years for Haiti to get back on its feet, Evans says the people are resilient and strong; poor in material things and rich in what really matters.
"In family, in willingness to sacrifice, in willingness to work hard."
Lee Parrish is a local volunteer for Feed the Hunger, a group that packed more than 100,000 meals for Haitian children last year.
"Currently we're feeding 4,000 kids a day in 7 schools and 5 orphanages and it's through this Feed the Hunger packet," Parrish said.
The food packs are made up of rice, soy and dehydrated vegetables that can sustain a child, even if it's his only meal of the day.
Parrish says the devastation in Haiti provides an opportunity for hope.
"The more we can come together in communities across the United States and just give a little bit of our time and energy and money, we can make a huge difference over there."
Rev. Evans says the best way to help Haiti is to donate to local churches that can make sure the aid gets into the hands of the people who really need it.
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