ABOUT US
OUR BEGINNINGS
STAFF
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Haiti Children's Home (HCH) is a ministry founded by
Patricia and Melinda Smith to care for malnourished, premature, and abandoned children in Haiti. HCH relies
upon God for their needs through donors and churches in Canada and the United States.
HCH is a ministry of the
Haitian-based foundation FONSOPED working in partnership with Commission to Every Nation in the US and Canada.
HCH is supported by several other charitable organizations including Haitian Children's Aide Society in Alberta
and Interfellowship Christian Ministries in the US.
After helping missionaries in Haiti for the summer of 1983, Patricia Smith returned to the States with a
burden on her heart for Haitian children. In 1984, Pat and her eleven year-old adopted daughter, Melinda,
returned to Haiti to make this destitute country their new home. God brought the first of many children into
their care not long after this move and in 1988 Haiti Children's Home was opened. At least 200 children have
passed through Pat and Melinda's care since that first baby arrived at their doorstep.
Having received her nursing degree in the United States, Melinda has been instrumental in saving the lives of
countless babies who are brought to the Home. Haiti's health care system is not equipped or developed enough
to care for premature babies. As a result, many children die within the first month of their life. In North
America a baby that is born six weeks premature would be in intensive care for several weeks. However, the local
hospital near HCH is severely understaffed and under stocked of medical supplies and equipment. Many
premature infants have been referred to Melinda for more intensive care. Two incubators, a warming bed and
Melinda's exceptional nursing skills and care have made it possible for many children to be returned healthy and
well to the biological families.
Besides the excellent medical skills of Melinda, the love and comfort of Pat helps speeds the recovery of
these little ones. Pat can be found a 5 am comforting a newborn who has woken up sick; at 9 am feeding a
baby; at 6 pm playing and doting over the babies as she gives some of them their daily bath; at 9 pm
tucking a blanket around a tiny little one and at 2 am sitting up with a malnourished baby, slowly feeding it
formula from a tiny bottle. Pat will sit up night after night holding a very sick baby, praying over him or her
and offering eye droppers full of formula or rehydration fluid.
However, many children are left at HCH because poverty stricken parents are no longer able to provide the care
for their children. Children who are eligible for adoption have been placed with loving Christian families
in Canada and the United States. Pat and Melinda pray about each child and potential adoptive family before
placing the children with families. HCH provides continual well baby care to orphans until they are
placed with their adoptive families. A few children with special medical conditions have found a permanent home
at Haiti Children's Home.
Pat and Melinda give so much care and love to the destitute children of Haiti. Night after night they get
by on very little sleep as they nurse a dying infant back to health. Day after day they and the staff provide
medicine, baths, meals, wipe runny noses, nurse bruised knees and cuddle and dote on the children in the Home.
Not to mention all the diapers that need to be washed!
Pat and Melinda operate HCH on a very limited budget. They are totally dependent on God to provide for the
needs of HCH and countless times they have seen God's hand move on their behalf in a time of need. Quite often
the last word they say at the end of a conversation is simply, "Pray". It is nearly impossible to comprehend
all of the challenges Pat and Melinda face every day.
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"Blessed is (s)he who is kind to the needy"
Proverbs 14:21
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