Haiti orphanage founded by Ohio couple survives quake, children reportedly safe

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By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer Updated 12:18 AM Thursday, January 14, 2010

An orphanage housing 126 children in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, founded 10 years ago by an Ohio couple has survived Tuesday’s massive earthquake and the children are now sleeping outdoors for their safety.

Miriam Rardin of Lima, mother of orphanage founder Hal Nungester, said Wednesday night, Jan. 13, that a report from an Illinois supporter indicates the children are uninjured and safe.

The supporter relayed the information to her Tuesday following a quick conversation with Rardin’s son just before the cell phone network went down, Miriam Rardin said.

The orphanage is called the H.I.S. (Haitian Interdenominational Shelter) Home for Children. Rardin has tried to get in touch with her son since then, but said she has not been able to place a call.

“I’m just so grateful we were spared and there were no injuries,” she said.

On the charitable nonprofit organization’s Website, Nungester said the orphanage was founded in 1999.

He operates it with his wife Chris. The two worked as paramedics for the Harrod, Ohio, Fire Department in the 1990s, Miriam Rardin said, before journeying to Haiti to work as teachers. They decided to open the orphanage.

“They saw the need and were able to rent a house,” Rardin said. “You open the doors and kids are there.”

According to the Web site, the orphanage ministers “under the leadership of a board of directors comprised of Christian leaders from West Central Ohio and Northeastern New York.”

Rardin said 90 children have been adopted from the orphanage in the past 10 years, including to parents in Ohio.

Those who would like to donate funds or supplies to the orphanage should contact Miriam Rardin at: (419) 999-1255 or e-mail miriamrardin@hotmail.com. Put Haiti in the subject line of the e-mail.

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