In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday was celebrated on Monday, January 18, visitors to the Freedom Center donated six full truckloads of children clothes and personal care item for victims of the Haitian earthquake. In large boxes and stuffed trash bags, people gave socks and shirts, bottled water and blankets, in gestures of generosity that reflected the national outpouring of help for the catastrophe in the Caribbean.

Here are images taken outside the Freedom Center’s main entrance.  Through the day, nearly 4,000 people took advantage of free admission to tour the museum and help their fellow human beings on a distant island.

How much actually was contributed?  According to Matthews 25 Ministries, which accepted the donations and will ship the items to Haiti, more than 47,000 items of clothing were dropped off at the Freedom Center, with an estimated fair market value of $238,500.

We couldn’t have done it without the incredible participation of the Cincinnati Reds, 1-800-GOT-JUNK! and Matthew 25 Ministries, plus the many Freedom Center staffers who help sort and load the donated items.

To everyone, and on behalf of the children of Haiti, thank you!