Valley rallies to help Alaskans in Haiti

MAT-SU — One man’s need to help has become a Valley-wide relief effort for victims of a devastating Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.

When Dr. Jordan Greer first heard about the disaster, which flattened Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital, he and sons Jordan II and Hunter packed their gear and hopped on a plane. While they have been treating hundreds of injured people a day in their mobile medical clinic, Dr. Greer’s wife Sallie has been at home raising money to pay for the medicines and travel for the effort.

That fund-raising came to a head on Sunday with a benefit brunch and silent auction at Turkey Red, which has raised more than $11,500 as of Monday afternoon.

“It’s fantastic,” Sallie Greer said. “The response has been overwhelming.”

And as of Monday, her husband and sons have moved out of Port-au-Prince to an area about 120 miles west of the city, she said. Because international aid organizations are beginning to get a handle on the situation in Port-au-Prince, the Greers moved to where they could be the most help.

“They heard there was a local doctor there who was kind of overwhelmed,” she said. “The local doctor is so thankful that they’re there, so relieved that they brought medicine. And the people are so appreciative because they hadn’t seen any medical personnel there.”

The men “are really exhausted, as you can well imagine,” Sallie Greer said, adding the plan is that they will likely return to the Valley on Sunday.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.