Hoo-boy. We have our work cut out for us.
I’m sitting here with my cocoa, considering the effect that this election may have on Haiti and on Haitians both there and living in the United States. My Haitian godfamily lives in Ohio now. This isn’t a good time to be Haitian in Ohio. And nothing is improving in Haiti right now – as a matter of fact, I gather it is getting worse. I will not quote those who malign Haitians, but I will say I didn’t expect to hear a friend need to joke that people shouldn’t worry about their pets, as they are vegetarian.
So what do I do until I know what to do? Drink Haitian hot
chocolate. Singing Rooster Haitian hot chocolate, to be specific. And I am here
to commend it to you both because it is fabulous and because you can support small
farmers in Haiti while doing so.
Actually, I met the people who were starting this project back in 2012 at a church patronal festival in Jeannette, Haiti – way out in a rural area of the southern peninsula.
Back then, as I understood it, it was
limited to coffee. Now there is also chocolate (I want the lemon ginger dark
chocolate bar… if my family reads this, feel free to give it to me for
Christmas! :-D), metal art, paintings – and, of course, the hot chocolate. Dark hot
chocolate. Microwave milk, then mix for a while because this is the real thing with bits
of chocolate that need to melt. This time I added cinnamon because I was
remembering Sr. Marie Margaret making us hot chocolate in Haiti in which cinnamon
sticks were involved.
Here is the information you need: https://singingrooster.org/ They have both retail and wholesale options, including information about using this for fundraising.
But NOOOO… Classic Hot Chocolate is out of stock! https://singingrooster.org/shop/haitian-hot-chocolate-2/ I am so sad. And grateful to have bought a couple of bags last time I had the opportunity.
They still have bulk/wholesale spicy hot chocolate – that is, hot chocolate with cinnamon and hot pepper. Hmmm… Haitian Hot Chocolate - Spicy! I haven’t tried that yet. Maybe I will… except I can’t afford 15 bags. Fundraiser? Hmmm… They do sell it at my childhood church, so I know that's a thing.
There is also the chocolate, of course. Show your friends some of what Haitians really eat. They want some, too.
If you want to support Haiti in this way, there are also Christmas ornaments, metal, paintings, and plenty of coffee.
I had better drink the rest of my hot chocolate before it gets cold. It won't change the state of the world, but it will fortify me for the next steps.
