ORLANDO – The Central Region Florida Department of Children and Families honored Lutheran Services Florida on April 9 for its work during the Haitian Repatriation Operation at the Orlando Sanford International Airport.

Regional Director John K. Cooper presented a certificate of thanks to Danielle Kearney, LSF Director of Church and Community Relations, during a ceremony at the Central Region office.

DCF and a host of community and government partners including LSF were deployed to the Orlando Sanford International Airport on Jan. 16 to meet thousands of Haitians who fled the devastating earthquake which rocked Haiti on Jan. 12. Most of them held dual Haitian-U.S. citizenship.

“It was a disaster that was met with a sense of urgency,” Cooper said. With little or no planning time, he said, individuals, teams and organizations came forward to construct what was to become the single largest point of re-entry ever during a repatriation operation.

Over the course of several weeks, more than 9,500 Haitians came into the airport on over 100 flights, according to Cooper.

“The critical support of key organizations and individuals ensured that those returning to our beautiful nation – under the most horrendous of conditions – were met with compassion and kindness, comfort items, medical attention, food, teddy bears, and most important of all, help to reconnect with loved ones or just (with) home,” Cooper said.

LSF staff and volunteers coordinated translators for the Creole-speaking Haitians arriving by plane. LSF manned its “Volunteer Central” at the airport 24 hours a day.

LSF President and Chief Executive Officer Samuel M. Sipes praised their efforts.

“Because of the selfless work of our LSF staff, we were able to galvanize a group of volunteers and staff, many who spoke Creole, to meet the immediate needs of Haitians coming to the U.S.,” Sipes said. “The work and dedication that our staff provided during this disaster was truly inspiring.”

Lutheran Services Florida is a statewide, nonprofit human services agency dedicated to helping all people in need regardless of religious affiliation, age or national origin. Headquartered in Tampa, the agency has more than 60 programs located throughout Florida. Since it was established in 1982, LSF has helped more than 800,000 children and families. LSF’s mission is to bring God’s healing, hope and help to people in need.