Oregon Public Broadcasting

As donations flood in from across the country for Haitian earthquake relief, the Northwest philanthropic commuity is moving into action.

Former Oregon State running back Yvenson Bernard had his plane ticket for a trip to Haiti January 25th. He says he couldn’t wait to finally see 8-year-old half-brother he’s never met.

Now, in the aftermath of Haiti’s lethal earthquake, he doesn’t even know if 8-year-old Sebastian is still alive.

Yvenson Bernard “I’m just trying to tell people to just give something. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, to start off with , they don’t’ have anything. I just know most of those buildings - the homes aren’t really sturdy.”

Bernard, who’s living in Seattle now, and playing for a Canadian pro league, is among those raising money for earthquake relief.

Portland-based Mercy Corps hopes to have a team of two to three workers in Haiti as soon as Thursday. 

Another Northwest relief group, Medical Teams International also hopes to get volunteers in place around the same time, as soon as transportation is available.

Bernard is not sure if his mother’s extended family survived the quake.

Bernard’s lived in the U.S. his whole life, but his father, and his late mother both have extended family still in Haiti.