Important Update:

Friends,

Many of you have heard reports of the civil unrest in Haiti since the recent presidential election results there. Roads are closed, riots and protesters fill the streets and, in the absence of a basic, functioning security apparatus, there is a high level of danger and instability.

As a result of these events, we've been informed by All Hands that they have closed their operations indefinitely and will not be receiving new volunteers until December 24th at the earliest. The airport has been closed and they say that violence and road closures make even domestic travel difficult, if not impossible, in the immediate future.

This closure affects all of our scheduled volunteer dates and may become either prolonged or shorted as the situation progresses or deteriorates.

While I can only speak for my own beliefs about this...I think that although Haiti is certainly in need of aid, it is not the kind that we would be bringing that will help them the most at this time. Building schools and transitional shelters is a necessity that seems like a relatively distant priority when compared to explosions, violence and very real civil unrest.

Presently, Haiti lacks basic levels of security that I don't think would be brought by our crew's work. In any event, the absence of such security would make our goals and work difficult to carry out. It's unfortunate that this doesn't seem to be the time for "our type" of aid and we're all disappointed to not be able to be there at this time.

Still, some of us retain intentions to go to Haiti as soon as the conditions there make it possible and we hope that you all will continue to support that effort.

On behalf of our whole crew, I want to thank all of you for your support and rallying behind our trip. Probably the most heartening lesson from this whole thing has been the outpouring of support from our friends and families in this endeavor.

Those of you who have donated financially to our efforts can expect a refund through Pay Pal or otherwise in the coming days/weeks as we get that process sorted out. If you would like us to forward your donation to All Hands, please let us know and we will be able to do so on your behalf.

Thank you all, again.

Aaron Frumin