FEA TURE

Dave Hardin, Director of Safety for Air Evac Lifeteam, mingles with some of the children assisted by The Children’s International Lifeline. Hardin spent 16 days in the Dominican Republic assisting AeroAmbulancia in its efforts to provide Helicopter EMS and resupply missions into Haiti.

(www.childrenslifeline.net).

Operating an orphanage/refugee camp in Haiti 25 miles northwest of Port-Au- Prince, the organization feeds approxi- mately 1,300 children a day, including Kitsy. “A large number of orphans live in- side the compound,” said Hardin. “But there are hundreds more children that live in a surrounding village, and they all need the basic requirements to sustain life – food and water.” Hardin said that feeding such a large number of children was a challenge before the earthquake; now they are encountering a flood of refugees that swell the village population daily. Upon taking his initial flight into the camp, Hardin was struck by the sights and sounds of the devastation in Port-au- Prince. “The stench from the decay and devastation of the city was just overpow- ering,” he said. “We had to close the air- craft windows.” Upon arrival he was also struck by the dedication of the camp op- erators – Indiana natives Don and Pat Cur-

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