HOMESTEAD, Pa. -- With food and water in short supply after a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, Pittsburghers are volunteering their time and donating supplies to send relief.

Volunteers in Homestead gathered for a packing day as a food convoy in Haiti was rushed by dozens of hungry people trying to get high-protein biscuits on Saturday.

Supplies collected in Homestead for the Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti Saturday include children's vitamins, diabetic medicines, pain relievers, allergy medicine and antibiotics.

Buckets and hoses will be sent so Haitian families can have millions of gallons of clean water.

"It's a water filtration system (for) FLM. We're going to make up a couple of these just for samples, then we're going to drill holes and send the kit to them that they can make up themselves," said Ray Wiseman, a volunteer.

For 20 years, the group has been working to help Haiti. The volunteer effort was planned before the earthquake. Volunteers lending their time said they wouldn't miss this for anything.

"For me, that's my part is helping somebody that's less fortunate than me," Wiseman said.

"The people of Haiti, they need our help. They are our neighbors and we are called to help our neighbors," said Russell Bynum, FLM's president.

The Brother's Brother Foundation based on the North Side has worked in Haiti for 40 years. A major shipment of medicine and medical supplies was sent from their warehouse on Dec. 30, weeks before the earthquake.

The workers are still collecting specialized supplies from pharmaceutical companies and others, but, there's something they want from you for Haiti.

Karen Dempsey, of the Brother's Brother Foundation, said they are collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brushes, clean washcloths, new wash cloths and bars of soap, among other things.

"We're asking the community to put it into a container, about a 5-gallon bucket size," Dempsey said.

Giant Eagle shoppers can help the victims in Haiti. The American Red Cross is accepting donations beginning Saturday through Jan. 30. Giant Eagle said it will match up to $50,000 of the total money raised. All of the money raised will go for food, clothing, medical care and other crucial supplies.

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