WEATHER

Iowa nonprofit's Haiti projects hit by Hurricane Matthew

Charly Haley, chaley@dmreg.com

An Iowa-based nonprofit's projects in Haiti have been devastated by Hurricane Matthew.

GoServ Global, based in Eagle Grove, has built orphanages, a medical clinic, a dental clinic and a school in Les Cayes, Haiti. Most of those buildings sustained major damage, the nonprofit said Wednesday in a news release.

"Steel roofs and the tops of most of our buildings are gone," the release said. "Crops, agricultural animals like chickens, rabbits and aquaponics, as well as the trees are all destroyed."

This is an medical clinic built by Iowa-based GoServ Global in Haiti, damaged by Hurricane Matthew.

While the entire surrounding community has been largely demolished by the storm, the about 150 people living in GoServ's projects are safe, the news release said.

GoServ Global works to "rescue the vulnerable" in Haiti, including serving orphans, widows, abandoned babies and others.

The nonprofit mostly employs Haitians who serve as houseparents for its orphanages, a doctor and nurses for the medical clinic, and teachers for the school that serves 400 students, Mary Graham, GoServ's development coordinator, said in an email.

This is an orphanage built by Iowa-based GoServ Global in Haiti, destroyed by Hurricane Matthew.

Two Iowa missionaries, Les and Catherine DeRoos, who volunteer with GoServ through Laborers With Christ in Alta, Ia., were in Haiti on Wednesday, Graham said.

In the wake of damage from Hurricane Matthew, GoServ is asking for emergency donations. Donations can be made online at goservglobal.org/give.

More coverage of Hurricane Matthew:

As Hurricane Matthew has made its way across the Caribbean, 11 people have reportedly died, including seven in Haiti. National news reports indicate the death toll is expected to rise.

Hundreds of thousands of people were reportedly evacuated on Wednesday in Florida and South Carolina as Hurricane Matthew headed to the U.S. The storm is expected to reach the Florida coast early Thursday.

This vehicle amid damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, belongs to Iowa-based nonprofit GoServ Global, which has built a school, clinics and other community projects in Haiti. Those projects were destroyed, but people associated with the nonprofit are safe.

GoServ Global began five years ago by Ken DeYoung, a farmer from Laurens, Ia., and state Rep. Terry Baxter, R-Garner, Graham said. The nonprofit has had a presence in Haiti since then.

DeYoung is also a pilot, so he flies to Haiti about once a month with Conwell Larson, another farmer on the nonprofit's board of directors, Graham said. Last year, the nonprofit brought 35 volunteer teams from Iowa to work in Haiti.

DeYoung is planning to eventually fly to Haiti to assist with the hurricane's aftermath, Graham said. The group had also been planning to send a couple of mission teams to Haiti late this month or early next month, she said, but she wasn't sure if that will still happen due to Hurricane Matthew.

For more information on the nonprofit, visit goservglobal.org or find the group's Facebook page.

Donations can also be mailed to: GoServ Global, PO Box 193, Eagle Grove, IA 50533. For checks, write "Hurricane Relief" in the memo line.