Lynn man finds good news from family in Haiti

LYNN-Mayoral Assistant Gardy Jean-Francois has been anxiously waiting word from his sister Majorie, who lives in Port au Prince, since Jan. 12 when a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti.?My sister in Boston and I spent two weeks trying to call Majorie,” he said. “We couldn’t get a hold of her. I went to St. Pius Church to pray on Sunday. I pray for my sister that she is alright, for my family and for the people of Haiti.”Jean-Francois, who moved to the United States from his native Haiti 25 years ago, said he finally received the phone call on Wednesday that everyone had been hoping and praying for was alright. He said his sister in Boston called him and said she had good news.?She told me my sister Marjorie was on the phone with us. I asked (Marjorie,) ?Is it true? It’s you?'” he said in a voice full of emotion. “She said ?Yes, it’s true. It’s me. Tears came out of my eyes when I heard her voice.”Jean-Francois said his sister and his 5-year-old niece are homeless and living on the streets on Port au Prince.?There is nowhere for them to go,” he said. “They lost their home and are living in the street but they are alive. She told me they are just grateful to be alive. They have nothing but they are alive. It was a disaster but they are alive.”Jean-Francois said he is unsure when he would be able to speak with his sister again because the only way to communicate is by contacting a third party and hoping they can get a message to her. Jean-Francois also has two brothers in Haiti but he said they were in an area unaffected by the earthquake.Gardy, who lives in Lynn with his wife Onaney and their two children, said he has never been prouder to be part of the Lynn community than he is now.?I am so proud of the whole community here in Lynn,” he said. “Everyone has been offering their support to the people of Haiti and offering to help. The Mayor has been very supportive and there for me.”Jean-Francois said he has worked everyday since the earthquake ravaged his native country and he has kept his nose to the grindstone.?Working hard helped me get through each day,” he said. “There is so much work to do here and it helped take my mind off what was happening in Haiti.”Gardy is active with the Haitian Elderly Action League (HEAL), a Haitian senior care organization affiliated with Greater Lynn Senior Services.He said HEAL is looking for donations of canned food, clothing, blankets, toiletries and other items. Items may be dropped off at Neighbor to Neighbor, 121 Exchange St., Lynn and monetary donations could be made to the Haitian Relief Account at Eastern Bank. Plans are also in the works for a benefit concert next month at Lynn City Hall.