Story posted Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Local Hotel Takes In Haitian Refugees
When the first flights left Haiti filled with refugees of last month's devastating earthquake, those seeking to escape arrived at O'Hare Airport. They were then moved to an airport hotel ballroom where the Red Cross fed them and assessed their needs for their next steps in the United States.
A chartered United Airlines flight brought 77 Haitians to the International terminal at O'Hare Airport on Wednesday, Jan. 20. A bus brought them from the International terminal to Terminal 2 where they had a short walk into the O'Hare Hilton. Serving the Haitians had special meaning for staff at the Hilton, said hotel General Manager Laurens Zieren, as one of their own lost family in the quake.
"It was a fabulous thing (providing help)," said Zieren. "We have a team member who lost family (in the quake) and I had many team members asking me how we can help."
Waiting for the evacuees was a Red Cross processing unit that worked to access the needs of the refugees, provided the many dressed for warmer Haitian climates with winter coats and helped them locate family in the United States or local shelters to spend the night. An outside catering company also came in to provide meals.
The following day a second flight carrying 230 evacuees from Haiti arrived at O'Hare Airport. Red Cross officials moved their processing unit to Terminal 5 to provide more privacy.
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