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Mostly good news for woman with ties to Haiti
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BRODHEAD - Like many who received information from Haiti after Tuesday's earthquake, Candace Curry's joy was tempered with sadness.

She learned Thursday that 29 orphans and their guardian who lived at the orphanage she worked with in Port-au-Prince were alive and safe.

The children at the orphanage were from 3 to 14 years old.

One of the children, however, died in the earthquake.

Curry isn't sure which child died because she hasn't had personal contact with the people in Haiti. She was able to learn about the children from someone who had helped at the orphanage.

"I was so happy to hear that 29 of the children made it out alive," she said.

She was saddened to learn that one child died. "It's horrible that one was killed," she said.

All of the children were special, she said.

"They were so desperate to be loved," Curry said. "One little boy gave me a note that said 'I love you.'"

The children recently moved to the orphanage after their village was flooded.

Now, they face another natural disaster.

The orphanage was a three-story building located in Port-au-Prince. The building was severely damaged, she said.

Curry, a former teacher, and Terry Klossner, Albany, who attend the Monroe Bible Church, returned from a mission trip to the country Jan. 6.

They also worked at a school in Port-au-Prince.

Curry said she doesn't know about any of the 200 children who attended the school. They lived in homes around the area.

First-graders through seventh-graders attended the school, she said.

The American Red Cross pledged an initial $1 million to help people in Haiti.

The Red Cross made available all of the relief supplies from its warehouse in Panama, which would provide basic needs for about 5,000 families.

In addition, a mobile texting service will help raise money for victims. Donors may text the word "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given to the Red Cross.

Donations to the Red Cross can be sent to: American Red Cross P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or by calling (800) 257-7575.