Support Local Businesses, Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Businesses in the metro are reaching out to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

On any given Saturday, Chef Ana Davis is beating the lunch crunch at Café Do Brasil cooking to keep her customers happy, but no matter how hectic life has been, her mind remains on those who are suffering.

"Imagine a town, that  you look it's gone, you look it's gone, you look there's someone suffering. There's someone dying. You know, I just think that we need to stick together and do something," Davis said, who is the owner of Café do Brasil.

Coming from a developing country, Davis said she is blessed to build a life in America and wants to give back.

"Why not hold our hands and help these people. It's little people like me, a lot of little people that we think we're little, that we can't help, but a little help can be a big help," Davis said.

Café do Brasil, 440 Northwest 11th Street, will donate 10 percents of all its day sales on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, January 19-21 and the following Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, January 26-28 to the Red Cross International Relief for Haiti.

On the other side of downtown, big help is coming in smaller sizes. The Colcord Hotel is accepting toiletry donations for Haiti earthquake victims. They've partnered up with Clean the World. The Colcord is seeking unused, unopened products such as soap, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, Q-tips and hand sanitizers. Donations can be dropped off at the front desk of the Colcord,15 N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City.

And Big Truck Tacos, 530 NW 23rd St, is 'saving the world one taco at a time' so to speak.

"We're going to match every dollar and cent in this jar," said Jessica Carabajal, with Big Truck Tacos.

On Saturday the Mexican eatery collected donations and promised to match the total collected at the end of the day. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross.

"Whenever you can help other people and have that kind of opportunity then you're not just giving to them but to yourself, and it's good for the soul, your heart and the mind," Carabajal said.

To the south in Norman, a group of friends is putting their heart into every bite of their baked goods.

"We have everything from cookies to cakes to truffles and breads," said Michelle Sutherlin, Confections for a Cause co-founder.

Confection for a Cause started just months ago when they raised thousands of dollars for United Way. All the money from the online bake sale goes straight to the relief effort.

"We can't physically go to Haiti to help them for many reasons, but we can help them even if it's in our own kitchens baking something somebody will actually buy," Sutherlin said.

To place an order, visit their web site.

Each and every one of them is an ordinary person helping those they've never met half a world away.

"I'm not going to get a million dollars to send to them, but if I get whatever I get, it's more than what they have," Davis said.

More on News9.com: Eat Local, Help Haiti Victims