Somerset Surgery Center sponsoring benefit for Haiti

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February 4, 2010

By HEATHER PYLES, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Thu Feb 04, 2010, 08:00 PM EST

Somerset — The news coverage may have faded a bit since parts of Haiti were virtually destroyed by an earthquake a little more than three weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean help isn’t still needed.

And if you’re not sure who to give to or what to give, those questions can be answered through a local business that has planned a fundraiser this weekend to assist the victims of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that sent buildings tumbling and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

“Although the situation is grim is it not hopeless,” said Dr. Kent Daniels, anesthesiologist and medical director at Somerset Surgery Center (SSC) in an e-mail to the Commonwealth Journal. “The Haitians definitely have a void that needs filled.”

Since the Jan. 12 quake, millions of dollars have been sent to the nation, but rebuilding and recovery will require far greater resources than the Haitians currently have.

Somerset Surgery Center has chosen to donate the funds raised through “Hearts & Hands Helping Haiti” to three organizations: The Mission House, the Hope Orphanage, and an International Missionary Fellowship (IMF) hospital.

“I used to work with a surgeon and nurses and I went to church with one nurse who had been going to Haiti for several years,” Daniels said, about why SSC decided to donate to those specific organizations.

It was those nurses — who are taking a trip to Haiti in April that had been planned before the quake hit — who suggested that Daniels and other staff members at SSC donate proceeds from the benefit to those organizations.

“I knew they would have some first-hand information,” Daniels said.

Those nurses, who worked with Daniels in Ohio, will be attending this weekend’s event, which is hoped to help raise as much as $100,000 for the cause.

“A hefty number, and if we get to it, it would be real nice,” Daniels said.

The Mission House is sponsored by the Christian Service International (CSI), according to Daniels. The Mission House is located in Port-Au-Prince — the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation — and was totally destroyed by the quake, which was centered near the city.

“The Mission House served as an overnight shelter for medical personnel and missionaries who fly into Port-Au-Prince and stay overnight until they travel to their various service locations throughout Haiti,” Daniels wrote in the e-mail. “Thus, the sooner the mission house is up and running the quicker medical personnel and missionaries are able to enter Haiti and help the Haitians.”

In addition to the Mission House, CSI sponsors an all-female orphanage called the Hope Center in the town of Croix de Bouquet, which is located 10 miles from Port-Au-Prince. The orphanage, deemed unfit after the earthquake, is overseen by Tim and Toby Banks who have been serving in Haiti for

over a decade, Daniels said in the e-mail.

“While the orphanage is being rebuilt the girls, ranging in age from 6 months to 14 years, are forced to reside in a one bedroom apartment,” Daniels wrote in the e-mail.

The benefit will also raise funds for the IMF hospital, located in Bombardopolis, which is situated 140 miles from Port-Au-Prince.

“ ... The roads are so treacherous it takes over 7 to 8 hours of drive time,” Daniels wrote. “Despite this obstacle, Bombardopolis has seen over 3,000 refugees.

“The IMF hospital has helped several of these refugees and has trucks traveling throughout the countryside picking up patients,” Daniels continued. “The injured have been instructed to travel to crossroads and wait to be picked up by such ‘ambulance’ services.”

Daniels emphasized that the three organizations are run by people who have served in the nation for years.

“This is why we chose these organizations to help,” Daniels said. “These are grassroot organizations run by experienced individuals who have been in Haiti for a long period of time.”

The “Hearts & Hands Helping Haiti” benefit will feature former U.K. basketball player Jeff Sheppard, who is slated to speak and sign autographs as time will allow. And, for those who don’t want to miss their UK Wildcats play, Daniels said the UK-LSU game will be televised at the event.

A children’s festival, including inflatable jumphouses, several games, and a cakewalk will be featured.

A cornhole tournament with an entry fee of $30 per team will be organized with trophies, and first and second place monetary prizes will be awarded. Solo players are also welcome and will be paired up on Saturday before the tournament takes place.

“We would like to challenge the local trades, such as firemen, policemen, plumbers, electricians and etc. to organize cornhole teams to help a great cause and achieve cornhole champion bragging rights,” Daniels said in the e-mail.

Those interested can contact Billy Townsend at (859) 771-9348 for further details and pre-registration.

Other events include two magic shows by Gregg Farmer and bluegrass and gospel singing by the Daltons and Quintin McGinnis.

A silent auction featuring items donated by several local businesses will take place throughout the day. Daniels noted that Haitian-made products will be up for auction, along with gift certificates, electronics, original signed artwork, jewelry, golf outings, overnight stays and sports memorabilia. Concessions will also be available.

The benefit is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6 at First Baptist Church in downtown Somerset from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission to the event is a non-perishable food item to be donated to God’s Food Pantry in Somerset.

Anyone interested in making monetary donations prior to the event can contact First & Farmers Bank, PO Box 820, Somerset, Ky., 42502. Make checks payable to “CSI-Hearts & Hands Helping Haiti.”

To volunteer or make a donation you can contact the Somerset Surgery Center at (606) 679-9322. Additional contacts are Barbara Harris at (606) 219-6537 or Brandy Daniels at (740) 819-9922.

To find out more information about the Mission House, the Hope Orphanage, and the International Missionary Fellowship (IMF) hospital, go to:

www.csiministries.org, www.haitihope.org, and www.haitihospital.org.

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In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

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Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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