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To Haiti with Love was an online auction of art, photography, papercrafts, clothing, and creative goods. All proceeds go direct to the St. Joseph's Family of homes for children in Haiti.

The auction opened at 8 AM EST on Monday, February 1, 2010.

The auction closed at midnight EST on Monday, February 8, 2010.

Canadians can donate to St. Joseph's anytime through the online donation page of its Canadian fundraising organization, Broken Wings.

Americans can donate through the online donation page for Hearts with Haiti, the U.S. organization. Either way, your support builds hope.

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Earthquake Devastates St. Joseph Home in Port au Prince

Broken Wings is the Canadian fundraising organization whose primary mission is to support the vision and ministry of the St. Joseph Family in Haiti, which includes the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in Port-au Prince, Wings of Hope in Fermathe, and Trinity House in Jacmel.

Orphans caring for orphans: a beautiful story

St. Joseph’s Home for Boys was Michael Geilenfeld’s dream that became a reality in 1985, bringing boys off the streets of Port-au-Prince to provide them with a Christian home and family.

When French missionaries announced they were leaving Haiti and needed to find care for the disabled children under their supervision, Michael took some of the older boys from St. Joseph's to choose a child to bring home and care for. But the boys surprised Michael when they chose to adopt all the children. Wings of Hope had become a thriving home for disabled children, recently rebuilt and expanded to include a day school for disabled community children and lovely guest facilities.

For more on the St. Joseph's family of homes for children, visit the Broken Wings website.

Endless thanks to our hosts at Squarespace, who not only make the most robust and most elegant blogging platform on the planet, but who are also as generous as they are hip.

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Where there is doubt, let me sow faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

~ Saint Francis of Assisi

Broken Wings: family taking care of family 

In 1985, Michael Geilenfeld, a former Brother with Mother Theresa's Brothers of Charity, with $1,000 in hand, rented a small four-room house and offered a home and a Christian family lifestyle to five boys that were then living in the streets. St. Joseph's Family of Homes was established.

His hope was that these youngsters would learn the value of family, education and the importance of independently caring for oneself while at the same time searching out opportunities to serve others. The home grew from five boys to approximately 20 boys in a wonderful home with guest facilities, a chapel, and an art center.

Wings of Hope

In Haiti, children with physical or mental challenges are sometimes considered to be manifestations of evil spirits. During a violent phase in Haiti's recent history, the women who ran a home for disabled children feared for their own safety and decided to return to their home country. They looked for someone to take over their home, but when do one would, they canvassed all the homes for children in the area, asking if they would take one child each. The only home to respond was St. Joseph's.

Michael thought it would be a good learning experience for his children to grow up with a child with disabilities. However, when they went to the home, the boys accompanying Michael decided that they should not only care for one child, they should take over the entire home and care for them all. Wings of Hope was born.

When Peter Eyvindson visited and saw the conditions of the home and the children living there, he was overwhelmed with the positive outlook of the young men running the homes. As a result of his experience, Peter wrote Soni's Mended Wings. Proceeds from the book allowed Micheal and the family to build a beautiful facility for the children.

Until everything changed with the earthquake, Wings of Hope was considered to be the best facility for challenged children in Haiti. With your help, it will be, again.

The Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti

In time, Michael discovered that these wonderful children lacked self-esteem because of their difficult lives prior to coming to St. Joseph's. In an attempt to foster their sense of well being, accomplishment, and to provide a method of expression, Michael turned to the arts - eventually establishing The Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti.

The dance theatre has grown from these humble roots and now tours across Canada and the United States on an annual basis. Drummers accompany the dancers' portrayal of the children's lives and Haiti's history through contemporary and traditional Haitian dance. The drum, a traditional symbol for Haitian freedom, plays a prominent role in their presentations and is primarily the only musical accompaniment.

St. Joseph's Guest Home

Seeking to be more independent and to not have to survive on donations alone, Michael established the St. Joseph's Guest Home, opening St. Joseph's to travelers and guests for a very reasonable price, again teaching his children of the world and caring for others. Over the years, many guests have stayed and were made to feel very welcomed by the children who live at the home.

St. Joseph's Community Art Center

A few years ago, St. Joseph's Family purchased the home adjacent to St. Joseph's. Presently under the last stages of renovations, the building is designed to reach out to the community by providing a space where neighboring children can experience training in the arts.

A well known Haitian artist, Ralph Allen has volunteered his time to conduct art classes -- with outstanding results! Art from the center first appeared in 2003 in a book of prayers called "A Gathering of Angels", then again in 2004 in "Always Room at the Inn", and most recently in 2009 in the recently released "Shine".