A CTV survey last week showed 58 per cent of respondents did not plan to donate to the Haitian relief effort.

Perhaps those who said they would not support fundraising efforts believed the disaster simply does not impact Canada and their charitable dollars would be better spent closer to home.

Although the earthquake was indeed thousands of miles away the aftershocks of the quake hit hard in the heart of Canada — especially Okotoks.

A catastrophic earthquake devastated the Caribbean island on Jan. 12 and according to the Haitian government more than 150,000 people were killed and hundreds more are still missing. Among those killed were 16 Canadians and there are still 306 Canadians missing.

Immediately after the earthquake rocked Haiti foothills residents were trying to find out how they could help mainly because of the strong Haitian population in Okotoks and area.

True, it would seem strange there would be a significant Haitian population in a small southern Alberta town which is predominantly caucasian and has often been accused of being a bit redneck.

However, Okotoks is in a unique position. There are more than a dozen Haitian orphans living in Okotoks as they were adopted by local families. Those adoptions were facilitated by God’s Littlest Angels Canada (GLAC), a charity based in Okotoks which helps operate an orphanage in Haiti.

Jerry Epp, the president of GLAC, said he has been inundated with calls not only from fellow Okotokians but from Albertans across the province.

“I have had a lot of e-mails from people asking how they can help,” said Epp. “From Canmore to Edmonton.”

Curtis Friesen said much the same as his phone was ringing off the hook as people throughout the Okotoks community called offering what ever help they could.

You see Friesen’s 18-year-old daughter Jessica is in Haiti where she volunteers at the GLAC orphanage. Thankfully, she was shaken, but she survived the earthquake and urges Okotokians to give what they have to the relief effort whether it is dollars or prayers.

Okotoks has answered Jessica’s plea for help.

While GLAC is being flooded with calls, numerous other events are being organized in the community. The fundraisers range from popcorn sales and bottle drives at local schools to benefit concerts the first of which is Saturday at The Willy at The Okotoks Inn.

In addition, the Okotoks business community has jumped on board offering donations or help to raise funds despite being in the midst of a recession.

While many Canadians do not feel compelled to donate to the Haitian relief effort it is clear that is not the feeling in Okotoks.

The poverty-stricken country may not be next door, but thanks to a local charity and its efforts to help rescue orphaned children Haiti has become part of the Okotoks community.

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