Haiti has experienced numerous environmental and social hardships in recent years. The country has a history of natural disasters, including flooding, hurricanes and earthquakes, which cause mass destruction of property and public works. Along with these natural disasters, Haiti has had numerous outbreaks of cholera, a bacterial infection also known as “blue death.” Violence has also surged throughout the city, specifically in the capital, Port-au-Prince. In the capital, encounters between armed gangs and the police have led to catastrophe, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people.
These disruptions in Haiti have increased demand for medical attention, but many citizens cannot afford healthcare, with nearly a third of the population living on $2.15 per day, as reported by Doctors Without Borders in 2025.
Due to this, Redwood students have created a club that raises money for victims in need, called Help 4 Haiti. This club was created in the spring of 2025 by junior Josephine Perlov and is dedicated to raising money to donate to the American Red Cross (ARC), which sends funds to medical relief in Haiti. Over the past ten months, Help 4 Haiti has raised over $1500 in donations.
The club began raising money through bake sales. One bake sale turned to two, and then bake sales began every Saturday in October.
Maddie de Mos, a junior and one of the original members of the club, explained how Help 4 Haiti organizes its events and the goals for its campaigns.
“We meet on Fridays at lunch and discuss [events,] bake sales and other ways we could raise money. Then, we send that money to the Red Cross Foundation so that the people in Haiti can access [medical care],” de Mos said.
These bake sales, which feature a selection of cookies, brownies and lemonade, allow club members to reach out, connect with the community and educate the public about Haiti. Club members have found that talking with the community aids their cause and allows them to educate others.
Outside of bake sales, the club hopes to host a gala to raise more money. The club has started planning a gala with the goal of it taking place this December. This would allow them to reach a larger audience and raise greater awareness of the challenges Haiti faces.
“Right now, we are [in the early process of] trying to find a venue. [We’re] printing business cards and brochures with all the information about what our club does to hand out at the gala,” Maya Lal, junior and club member, said.
The gala, still in the early stages of planning, will feature a variety of activities, all representing Haitian culture, according to de Mos.
“We’re going to have a bunch of Haitian food, music, maybe art shows and ticket raffles,” de Mos said. “It’ll be a lot of fun and super important [for the cause].”
The goal of the gala is to spread the truth about Haiti’s current problems.
“We want to raise funds for the people [of Haiti],” Lal said, “We want to spread awareness of the conditions the people are living in and the struggles they endure.”
With all the aspects of the gala, the club anticipates reaching its annual financial goal to support its cause.
“Hopefully, we make more than we did last year,” de Mos said. “We’ve already made [close to] what we made [throughout all of] last year [approximately $200].”
Additionally, Lal encourages people to join support efforts.
“If any other students are interested, they can attend the meetings and participate in [fundraisers],” Lal said.
The current members of the club have said that the experience is incredible.
“It means a lot to be able to support people in Haiti and make healthcare more accessible. Knowing that the money we raise goes to the Red Cross and other medical providers is really fulfilling,” de Mos said. “We started with the intention of helping a community in need, and I really think we’re on track to make a big impact.”
