Just as many Americans were seeking the fastest way to get much-needed money to an earthquake shattered Haiti, District 1 Pharmacy Supervisor, Dave Fluitt, was finding out just how fast he could get himself there to help.

Dave and his wife, Kelly, a nurse practitioner with ER experience, traveled to Haiti last year to bring and dispense medications and provide medical aid there. But, last month, with images of a now-familiar country and people devastated by a startling earthquake, the Fluitts felt compelled to immediately return.

“I knew I had to do something,” Dave said.

Raley’s also felt compelled to do something, donating $1,600 to Lumiere Ministries, the non-profit missionary team that provides medical support to the underserved, to cover Dave and Kelly’s travel costs. Dave was overcome with emotion when Raley’s Communitarian, Jennie Teel-Wolter, told him of the donation that would get them on an emergency charter plane to Haiti.

“With the devastation in Haiti so complete, we felt this was an additional way Raley’s could contribute to the cause,“ Jennie said.

The company also converted cash boxes at our 134 stores between January 16 - February 13 to benefit the American Red Cross fund for Haitian Relief, raising over $149,000.

The Fluitts left the comfort of their Carson City home on Jan. 20 for two weeks in makeshift hospitals in and around Port-au-Prince. Dave speaks French, the native language, which helped the two provide much needed care and medications to the injured.  Dave and Kelly returned home safely on February 5.