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HAITI RELIEF
WATCH VIDEOS ON HAITI RELIEF
Supplies, medicine and money are pouring in to local relief groups for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
But the big challenge is getting it all there.
Volunteers in Coralville have spent the last week in a half packing supplies and getting them ready to ship.
But, as CBS 2's Kristian Leitzen found out, that's only half the battle.
Working in the cold, volunteers wrapped up another shipment of supplies for Haiti.
"The storeroom was full last time I saw it so to come and see it empty is really cool."
For the last week and a half, they've been sorting, packing and prioritizing donated supplies.
"What are you facing down there? Infection problems, trauma problems, that's what we're going to fix I think. So you gotta kinda take what supplies we have and divide it up."
And that's where some of the problems came in this week, keeping track of all the supplies.
One whole team of volunteers was tasked with just inventory.
"This is actually where we find we were bottlenecking the system so as much as we can get out they can put the pallets on the truck."
And Doug, the guy running things here, will have to face that same problem when he heads to Haiti next week.
"I’m looking forward to seeing it down there, but I know it’s gonna be tough once I get down there to try to take control of the inventory system that doesn't exist down there is going to be a challenge."
But he won't have the kind of help he's had here.
"Nursing students, pa students, med students, we've had retirees... "
With local businesses volunteering to feed them.
"Since last Tuesday we've had people here all day every day, and I don't think we've had to pay for food once."
And even more volunteers to get the supplies there.
Kirkwood donated a trailer, Hy-Vee a semi tractor and the teamsters are driving.
"We were asked to get it to Miami and we were glad to help. We told them whatever we could do to help and we supplied the drivers and the fuel."
And now its time for this truckload of help to hit the road.
Kristian Leitzen, CBS 2 News.
When it gets to Miami, the truckload of supplies is loaded on a boat for Haiti, and when it gets there, Doug will have to find a way to keep track of it and get it to the people that need it.
Because he won't have an army of volunteers waiting for him.
But the big challenge is getting it all there.
Volunteers in Coralville have spent the last week in a half packing supplies and getting them ready to ship.
But, as CBS 2's Kristian Leitzen found out, that's only half the battle.
Working in the cold, volunteers wrapped up another shipment of supplies for Haiti.
"The storeroom was full last time I saw it so to come and see it empty is really cool."
For the last week and a half, they've been sorting, packing and prioritizing donated supplies.
"What are you facing down there? Infection problems, trauma problems, that's what we're going to fix I think. So you gotta kinda take what supplies we have and divide it up."
And that's where some of the problems came in this week, keeping track of all the supplies.
One whole team of volunteers was tasked with just inventory.
"This is actually where we find we were bottlenecking the system so as much as we can get out they can put the pallets on the truck."
And Doug, the guy running things here, will have to face that same problem when he heads to Haiti next week.
"I’m looking forward to seeing it down there, but I know it’s gonna be tough once I get down there to try to take control of the inventory system that doesn't exist down there is going to be a challenge."
But he won't have the kind of help he's had here.
"Nursing students, pa students, med students, we've had retirees... "
With local businesses volunteering to feed them.
"Since last Tuesday we've had people here all day every day, and I don't think we've had to pay for food once."
And even more volunteers to get the supplies there.
Kirkwood donated a trailer, Hy-Vee a semi tractor and the teamsters are driving.
"We were asked to get it to Miami and we were glad to help. We told them whatever we could do to help and we supplied the drivers and the fuel."
And now its time for this truckload of help to hit the road.
Kristian Leitzen, CBS 2 News.
When it gets to Miami, the truckload of supplies is loaded on a boat for Haiti, and when it gets there, Doug will have to find a way to keep track of it and get it to the people that need it.
Because he won't have an army of volunteers waiting for him.
Posted: Sunday, February 7 2010, 04:38:42 PM