Friends of the Orphans, a nonprofit with a branch in Bellevue, has partnered with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos/Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs (NPH/NPFS) to come to the aid of thousands of children living in dire conditions in Haiti. Together, the organizations have formed Father Wasson Angels of Light to address the immediate, mid-term, and long-term needs of children affected by Haiti’s devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake in January.

The new program was named after NPH/NPFS founder Rev. William B. Wasson.

“The number of orphans in Haiti has only grown larger since the earthquake struck, raising a lot of concerns about child welfare,” said Sharon Saxelby, president and CEO of Friends of the Orphans, the American fundraising arm of NPH/NPFS. “Because of the enormous need, our staff and volunteers are working around the clock to help bring these children out of the poverty in which they’re living, and we are grateful for the overwhelming, ongoing support of our donors.”

Angels of Light will work to provide permanent care to children orphaned by the earthquake by integrating them into the existing NPFS home and by providing extra care for those with mental and physical problems as a result of the tragedy. It will also help to identify children left homeless or otherwise unable to care for themselves but who have families, and therefore do not need to be integrated into the NPFS family. The goal with these children is to provide temporary care until they are reunited with their families.

In order to help as many children as quickly and efficiently as possible, NPH/NPFS is focusing on the Haitian community. The organization has established a strong presence in parks, on street corners, and in the tent cities, where unattended children are gathering.

The Angels of Light program provides children with food, water and clothing, and a day camp has been created on the grounds of St. Damien — the only free pediatric hospital in Haiti — where the children are brought each day. The NPFS staff works closely with the children to determine their situations, reunite them with their families, or integrate them into the larger NPFS family at the St. Helene orphanage in Kenscoff.

Currently, the Angels of Light program is caring for approximately 1,500 children. The program relies heavily on the assistance of NPH/NPFS graduates, many of whom have returned to help with the aftermath of the earthquake.

To learn more about NPFS or the Father Wasson Angels of Light program and how to donate, visit this web site.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.