By Allison B. Hudson
Josue Duperrier is not your average Donaldsonville neighbor. He is a citizen of Haiti, but has resided in the United States for the last 14 years.
Duperrier left Donaldsonville for Haiti on Jan. 8, right before the devastating earthquake that changed lives for thousands of people last Tuesday.
"It is very rough right now trying to search for family members," said Dupperier.
In a phone conversation with Josue, he recalls the exact moment when the quake hit.
"I was inside the house when it happened, after a loud boom, I quickly ran outside because I didn't know what was going on," he said.
With desperation in his voice, and loud noises all around, making it extremely hard to hear him, he still managed to give thanks to God for being alive.
When I asked him about the current conditions, he replied in a desperate voice, "we still don't have electricity, no food, no water, we have nothing at all."
He painted a vivid picture of how everyone sleeps on the streets because they are all too scared to go back in the rubble of what residents used to call home, and most do not even have tents.
Without transportation, he says he can only walk around and try and offer little help to those in need.
He is about 30 minutes from Port Au Prince, in a town called Tabarre and says his community has not seen any help as of yet.
As it became difficult to hear him, I asked what the loud noises were.
He paused for a long silence, and after a deep breath he said, "that is the bulldozers hauling bodies and dumping them at the end of the street as we speak."
He later walked away from the loud noise of machines into a different sound environment.
I could hear people crying in the background, and it seemed those who still had strength cried out for help. As I held my tears back, he said that people were still stuck in the bottom of the concrete and between damaged rubble.
"The biggest problem is that we don't have enough help or equipment to save those who are still holding on for their life," cries Josue.
In two different countries, Josue and I came up with a plan to help those in need.
"Without electricity and daily needs, its hard to survive," he added. "Don't send money, we need supplies, and helping hands."
Together we decided instead of asking for donations, we could raise money to buy necessary supplies that we take for granted until they are no longer available.
Around Donaldsonville, donation baskets have been set up for residents to help out at the River Road African American Museum, City Hall, and the Donaldsonville Chief.
If anyone would like to donate supplies, please feel free to bring them to the Donaldsonville Chief or the Chamber of Commerce office. You can also call 504-610-3292 or by email at editor@dvillechief.brcoxmail.com.