Local resident Diddi Washington continues to divide her time between her home ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Lake and her two Mission Haiti Helping Kids orphanages in Haiti.

Through the orphanages, 'Julia's House', located in Croix-des-Bouquets, 12.9 kilometres North of Port Au Prince and 'Auntie Sarah's House of Hope' located in Lilavois, Port Au Prince, Washington, visiting missionaries and orphanage staff have been busy caring for an ever increasing number of Haitian children, who have either been orphaned or abandoned.

Julia's House officially opened its doors in on Feb. 27, 2010. Just one year later, in July 2011, Auntie Sarah's house of Hope was opened to help shelter a growing number of children.

Since then the population of the orphanages has continued to grow and Washington said she is now hoping to open yet another orphanage.

Not only are the children given love and attention, food, medication, shelter and clothing, but they are also given the opportunity to attend school.

Mission Haiti Helping Kids initiatives have been supported by a number of fundraisers held in the local area, including an annual yard sale. Funds have also been donated locally for the purchase of goats for a goat program, medications, school uniforms and books for the children.

Washington said that from the fundraisers and donations, she is also able to run a de-worming and scabies removal program at the orphanages and provide clothing and food, including rice and beans.

She also started 'Aaron's Chicks', which is a chicken program that helps a number of orphanages have fresh eggs every day and 'Colborn's Cow Project', helping to provide fresh milk.

At last count, the Mission Haiti Helping Kids family had grown to 33 children, 17 in Julia's House and 16 in Auntie Sarah's House of Hope, however just recently seven more children were taken in.

Woodley aged six, Charlie, 11, Clifford, 10, Aylene, 15, Jeselo, 13, Williamson, 14, and Doval 15, now call one of the two orphanages home.

"I met little Woodley back in 2008 and now he is our new six year old. He had been abandoned by his dad and was homeless. He had a mentally ill aunt who he lived with, at a church, and spent most of the rest of his time running around without adult care. Another aunt checked up on him from time to time but this little kid stuck to me like glue and now I know why. We thank the Lord for giving us Woodley."

Recently she opened a new 'street boy cottage' called 'Erik the Applebees', which is a transitional cottage for street boys located behind Auntie Sarah's House of Hope. "We opened Erik the Applebees to help to rescue more street kids. There are so many kids that come to us that are homeless. We have kids that sit at our gate and cry because they just want a home that they can be safe in and go to school and be loved. This is my vision .... helping kids in Jesus name," Washington said, adding that she still has a dream to purchase 20 acres by the sea in Haiti to house even more children in need.

She also hopes to open another transitional house for street kids called 'Diddi's Do Drop In'.

"We are again bursting at the seams and need another home," Washington said.

One of the favourite memories from her last trip to Haiti was taking the children from the two orphanages, along with some children from another orphanage to have a church day at the beach.

"All of us had a blast. Best of all we had a church service under a little cabana," she said,

A Saturday kids program held at Julia's House is continuing and the program is going well.

They are now serving a hot meal to all of the children that attend, as well as sing songs and participate in prayer. "So many of our little neighbours come and enjoy the program with us."

In November 2011, four-first time missionaries, as well as three returning missionaries arrived to help care for the children and local resident Rebekah Rempel, who was also helping out at Julia's House for a number of months returned home to ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Lake.

School uniforms and money to pay school fees for the children are still on the Mission Haiti Helping Kids wish list.

Uniforms cost $30 and shoes and school books also need to be purchased. School fees range from $25 per student to $100 every year and Washington said donations of clothing and black school style shoes for the children are also appreciated.

For more information about how to help, email Washington at diddilynn@hotmail.com.