Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you still need tents or am I too late?
- Would my camping tent be of interest to you?
- I plan to raise funds and/or purchase tents. Can you recommend any particular models of tents?
- Why are these the preferred tents?
- I can't afford to pay for the expensive tents!
- I don't have a used tent and I can't afford to purchase a brand new tent, do you have a way that I can make a small contribution to help with the purchase of a new tent?
- When I purchase the tent online, where should I ship it to?
- Why tents?
- How will the tents be used?
- Who is Beyond Borders and the Haiti Response Coalition?
- Where do I send the tents I collect?
- What happens to the tents when they arrive in Haiti?
- Can I choose the community I want my tent to be sent to?
- I am working with a Haitian community and we are desperate for tents, can you help us?
- Do you need help with funding the shipment from Miami to Haiti?
- How much does it cost to ship my donation to Haiti? How is that calculated?
- My organization, church, community-group is starting a drive, we probably won't get it launched until May - will that be too late?
- I am planning a tent drive but can't afford to ship the tents to Miami, can you help?
- What happens when you ship your tent?
Do you still need tents or am I too late?
Yes! Yes! Hundreds of thousands times yes. Hundreds of thousands of Haitian were left homeless due to the earthquake that shattered their island. It will take years to rebuild and there are still hundreds of thousands left homeless. Many are still residing under tarps in the street and it vitally important to give these Haitians secure shelter from the weather.
Would my camping tent be of interest to you?
Probably yes. If your tent(s) is in good condition, water-resistant and with netting and/or mosquito screens, yes your tent will do. The ideal tent is a family-sized tent (many former Eagle Scouts have sent these to us already; thank you!) but, again, whatever you can spare and if a quality tent, please send.
I plan to raise funds and/or purchase tents. Can you recommend any particular models of tents?
Our on-the-ground team in Haiti says tents like the Eureka Equinox and N'Ergy tents found on this page are the optimal tents:
http://www.eurekatent.com/filterTool.aspx?cID=6
Prices start in the mid $200s for family-sized tents
They are also available at many camping retailers, as well as other quality family-sized tents. Click on the links below and shop and compare. Many offer Free Shipping so take advantage of it. Feel free to browse other camping retailers but here's a sampling:
Campmor: this site offers a great variety of tents, including the Eureka models featured on this page, again starting in the mid $200s for a family of 6.
MountainSports: Search family-sized tents and you'll find prices starting at $219 with FREE shipping
REI: Recommended 6-man Eureka Suite V6 tent, $299.95 Free shipping for REI members
Why are these the preferred tents?
They can easily house families of 5-10 and allow them to stand as well as sleep in them. They additionally can be pitched on a street or paved area (which comprises most of the Port of Prince landscape.)
I can't afford to pay for the expensive tents!
Whatever you can send will be appreciated and used! However, might we suggest you find five - ten friends and purchase one tent to house a large family or perhaps hold a fundraiser at your church, your school, outside of your local grocery store to house a Haitian family.
I don't have a used tent and I can't afford to purchase a brand new tent, do you have a way that I can make a small contribution to help with the purchase of a new tent?
We've heard from so many of you that you want to help purchase a tent. So our nonprofit affiliate, KonPay -- who has been doing Haitian relief long before the earthquake -- has allowed us to set up a contribution form for those that cannot afford to buy a tent but would like to make a tax-deductible contribution toward the purchase of large, weather- resistant tents to help shelter a Haitian family, click here to make a donation. Anything you can give will help.
When I purchase the tent online, where should I ship it to?
Ship the tent directly to the warehouse listed to the left and we'll make sure that your donation goes to a family in need. Do however alert us to the shipment.
Why tents?
After loosing their homes, countless families are in dire need of IMMEDIATE shelter for their health and safety. Haiti is still experiencing aftershocks on a daily basis, and so even if their home is still standing, families are not moving back into them because they are structurally damaged and not safe to return to.
How will the tents be used?
These tents will provide shelter and in particular homes for families in URGENT need of protection from THE RAINY SEASON HAS ALREADY BEGUN! Children are getting colds and the flimsy found material (as opposed to solid waterproof tents) are being used for protection is melting or being washed away by the rain!
Who is Beyond Borders and the Haiti Response Coalition?
Beyond Borders is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization working in Haiti since 1993. You can visit Guidestar.org for the full profile. BB is a coordinating member of the Haiti Response Coalition (HRC). Our staff on the ground in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel are prepared to receive tents at the designated port of entry and to distribute them in the communities with which we work. For more information about Beyond Borders or the Haiti Response Coalition, please visit www.haitiresponsecoalition.org.
Where do I send the tents I collect?
We are stockpiling tents at our warehouse in southern Florida -- see the address on the left. When we have enough tents to fill a container, we will package them up ship them to Port-au-Prince to be received by our staff. Please alert TentsforHaiti to let us know what you are planning (we'd like to start posting success stories) and alert us of what to expect and when.
What happens to the tents when they arrive in Haiti?
Shipments will be received in Port-au-Prince by partners on-the-ground who are members of the Haiti Response Coalition. They will distribute the shipments directly to families in need of shelter.
Can I choose the community I want my tent to be sent to?
Our organization works with about twenty supporting Beyond Border non-profits partners supporting multiple newly-formed Haitian communities. We aim to "share the wealth" by distributing tents to as many of these communities as possible, in particular those deemed "most in need." Feel free, however, to alert us to your interest.
I am working with a Haitian community and we are desperate for tents, can you help us?
Please email Sarah your particulars as she is coordinating shipments with our on-the-ground non profits and will let them know of your situation.
Do you need help with funding the shipment from Miami to Haiti?
While tentsforhaiti.com does not collect monetary donations, our partner BeyondBorders, rely 100% on donations from around the world and serve as our conduit into Haiti.
How much does it cost to ship my donation to Haiti? How is that calculated?
Our shipping cost is $20 per cubic foot of container space, as specified by the shipping company working with Econocaribe. In addition, there are fees related to customs, taxes, etc and ground transport of the shipments to communities within Haiti. Please take this into consideration and submit your tax-deductible donation here. Anything you can give will help.
My organization, church, community-group is starting a drive, we probably won't get it launched until May - will that be too late?
We look forward to your support and the day we can say tents are no longer needed! But whatever you can do, whenever you can do it, please do! We know it takes time to plan and coordinate your activities to make the drive as successful as possible. Of course, the rainy season is upon Haiti now but the hurricane season starts in June! Send tents whenever you can and thank you. And be sure to alert us of your plans and your shipments!
I am planning a tent drive but can't afford to ship the tents to Miami, can you help?
Unfortunately, as we've noted, we are hoping people can help us fund the shipping from Miami to Haiti, so we are asking our tent drivers to think a bit creatively on how to fund the effort. A couple of thoughts:
- you take up a collection day of the tent drive - tent plus a $5/10 shipping donation fund the shipping effort;
- you could start a raffle of some sort to fund the shipping effort;
- find a few local organization(s) that will fund the shipping; we can give those organization a tax-exempt authorization letters from our partner, KonPay, who handles corporate contributions, enabling them to completely write off the donation and we'd be happy to feature them on tentsforhaiti.com.
- If you don't want to take up the burden of shipping, a third way would be to canvas your neighborhood, schools, communities and distribute the tentsforhaiti flyer - putting the control in the hands of the people - encouraging them to send their used tents that are still in good condition, to purchase a new tent or make an online contribution to help us buy tents at tentsforhaiti.com.
What happens when you ship your tent?
- First and foremost we need you to alert us that your tent or large shipment has been sent. Send a note to Sarah and let her know.
- Sarah alerts Hans at the warehouse to be looking for shipment.
- Hans reports back to Sarah when shipment received.
- Sarah confirms with person/or who sent items that they were received.
- Sarah alerts Elise to send tax letter to donor.
- Sarah alerts Mark to take/send/post photos of donation received.
- Container is filled.
- Paperwork is completed.
- Container is shipped by sea to PAP from Miami.
- Container is received in PAP 6 days later.
- HRC Partners in PAP report to Sarah that shipment has arrived and is being distributed.
- Sarah notifies everyone involved that shipment arrived and is being distributed.
- A Haitian family gets a better night sleep. :-)