Allan Appel Photo
The boxes only appear to have bananas in them. Troyana Hie was delighted to behold box upon box of clothing, shoes, tools, food, and medical supplies being readied for shipment to Haiti — part of an avalanche of giving that has occupied an entire storefront in Whalley’s Edge of the Woods plaza.
Some of that stuff came from Troyana’s closet. It made her feel good.
The Co-Op High freshman had already given dollars for earthquake-ravaged Haiti through her school. Then the idea of kids in Haiti instantly having something to wear, directly from her closet, made so much more sense to her, as she and her mom prepared a drop-off on Whalley.
“You can’t wear money,” she said.
She spoke inside the former dance studio across the parking lot from the Edge of the Woods natural foods grocery store. The former studio is now filled floor to ceiling with some 300 boxes, roughly a third of a tractor trailer load.
Edge of the Woods owner Peter Dodge’s called for contributions of supplies for Haiti’s earthquake victims three weeks ago. He set up a pod in front of the store to receive the supplies. So many people responded that the pod quickly filled up.
The dance studio space was donated rent free by landlord Harold Smith. Dodge and crew began moving bags from pod to store almost immediately, while initiating the sorting and packing for shipping.
The shipment leaves on Monday, but collections continue through Friday. What’s still wanting? “Hand tools picks, shovels, tents of all kinds,” Dodge said.
In addition to the supplies collected, Dodge and ten other angels purchased 96 heavy duty tents, for a total cost of $28,000. They arrive from Utah in two days and will be combined with the local donations to be shipped to Port-au-Prince on Monday.
Unlike many of the pup-style tents that have been donated, these 96 purchases are canvas and can house up six people for extended periods, Dodge said. “A family can live in these tents for a year while they figure out how to survive.”
Anyone capable of contributing money can help Dodge make up the difference between the 66 tents he’s been able to pay for. At $275 per large canvas tent, 30 more gifts in that amount are needed. Contact Dodge at the store: 787‑1055.
Dodge called the response of an estimated 200 New Haveners “sweet.”
It was that and more to Troyana’s mom, Tracey Menafee-Hie. When she came in with her daughters (including Amistad second grader Tianna), she shook Dodge’s hand and said, “This is a blessing.”
Menafee-Hie said she frequently gives her kids barely-used Jordans and other clothing to be shipped to Africa through her friends at her hairdresser, Aisha’s African Hair Braiding over on Dixwell.
But when she spotted the pod, she decided to shift this batch to Dodge. “This is what you’re supposed to do [ed: as a human being]. “You never know when you’ll need these for you and your family.”
And she wasn’t through. She told Dodge she’d be back with some of the kids’ summer clothes.
Over the past week Dodge said he’s had a more difficult time than usual contacting his colleagues at the two Ananda Marga schools with which he’s associated in Port-au-Prince, the ultimate distribution point for the supplies.
The shipment leaves Monday by truck to Miami, and then by ship to Santa Domingo. From there it will travel by truck to Port-au-Prince. Many of these transportation costs are being borne by produce haulers and other contacts Dodge has from his grocery business who have been inspired by his example.
He said the only sticking point of concern might be in the Dominican Republic. There a shipment of medical supplies that he sent down two weeks ago is just being cleared.
D.R. customs officials opened many individual boxes because they were not properly labeled and the government was suspicious of contraband, he said.
That shouldnn’t happen with this shipment. He and Dada Karma (pictured) and Greg Johnston are carefully labeling each box and preparing accurate bills of lading.
Dodge was at pains to point out that New Haveners’ generosity notwithstanding, the shipment surrounding him would serve perhaps1,000 people. In Port-au-Prince alone there are three million in need. Recent estimates are that 230,000 people died in the Jan. 12 7.0 quake.
“We’ll continue the effort,” Dodge vowed.
He indicated the next big push might be a campaign for more tents and school supplies. Parents want to send their kids back to school, but 200 school buildings were destroyed in the capital and many parents won’t let their kids back in the existing buildings, he’s heard. So they may have to do it outdoors.
“We won’t stop,” he said.
Through Friday items can be left at the dance studio space 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or at any time during store hours at Edge of the Woods itself.