Woodlands Charity Raises Money to Help Haiti

HOUSTON - A benefit concert at Market Street in The Woodlands raised thousands of dollars to help the survivors of the Haiti earthquake. "Give Hope To Haiti" welcomed families who've never donated to the country and those who've been attached to it for a while.

The Woodlands is far removed from the poverty and destruction that define Haiti, but Friday night music brought hundreds of people together who wanted to help.

"I have a little one here, and it's hard to watch pictures of those children suffering and some of them not knowing if they'll see their moms and dads again or who's going to take care of them tomorrow," said Kris Wise, a mother.

Singer Aaron Ivey knows the need in Haiti first hand. He and his wife have adopted a pair of orphans. Two-year-old Story made it home last year, but the earthquake delayed Amos's trip. Ivey has gotten word his son was not hurt in the quake.

"Before the earthquake, he was in the last stage of adoption waiting for a passport to come home. He already knows I'm his papa. Over the years we've had a really cool bond. I'm ready for him to come home," said Ivey.

All donations collected at the benefit will go toward orphan care and clean drinking water efforts.

"Women and children walk several miles to and from a water source," said Matt Shepperd, founder of the charity I Am Change.

Shepperd is challenging people to take a walk with two, five gallon containers of water.

"If someone walks a few feet with 80 pounds of water, it's pretty sobering," said Shepperd.

Ivey says his son is now staying with family friends in Haiti and could get a phone call at any minute telling him Amos is on his way home.

"Humanitarian parole has been issued for orphans in Haiti that are in pending adoptions which is great, but there's just an overwhelming amount of orphans in Haiti trying to get out," said Ivey.

He hopes the money raised will help those who don't have a way out and may otherwise be forgotten.