It didn’t take an earthquake to alert Tim Wall to the desperate needs of the Haitian people. Five months before the earth began to shake and walls began to crumble, his family witnessed unimaginable hardships during a month-long visit to Hope for Haiti’s Children Center compound housing an orphanage, called Danita’s Children in honor of its founder Danita Estrella, and school in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.

Wall, a teacher from Kernersville, N.C., blogged about the journey he took with his wife Cindy, their 18-year-old twins Blake and Ethan, and 4-year-old Levi, whom they adopted from China in 2006 on www.timjwall.blogspot.com.

Because of their trip, the Wall family has become a face for the country following the Haiti earthquake. Friends and family who want to help, but have no idea where their support should go, have turned to the Walls for advice on reputable orphanages and missions and a clearer picture of what the reality of the need is. Wall used Facebook to connect those concerned in the U.S. with those on the ground in the fight for Haiti’s weakest.

This week Wall posted a message asking others to repost and spread the word:

“This week, set aside a meal and serve beans and rice. It is a staple in Haiti and a meal Haitians would be thankful to have–share the meal together as a family, with friends or colleagues. Any recipe of red beans and rice will do–but make it a time to remember, pray and send the saved money for relief.”

When the earthquake occurred, although the Hope for Haiti Children’s Center compound is more than nine hours away, their buildings were shaken and staff and children were evacuated as a precaution. Although the orphanage is considered at capacity, Estrella is planning a trip Port au Prince on Wednesday to bring back children that are now labeled–”earthquake orphans.”

She’s not sure what to expect, but compares it to another major natural disaster in Haiti in 2004. Hurricanes brought devastating flooding to Haiti killing more than 2,500 people. Overnight Danita’s Children took in 26 orphaned children who lost their parents in the floods. With the current disaster being so much larger in scope, they expect to take in many more orphans as a result.

Estrella is asking for help to increase food, shelter and clothing for these rescued orphans. For more information about how to donate, visit www.danitaschildren.org.

While the orphanage is up to Western standards has far as modern conveniences, many local residents suffer with unsafe water, only four hours of electricity a day, three lean meals a week and inadequate healthcare.

Hoping to improve health to its children as well as area residents, Danita’s Children broke ground on a state-of-the-art, three story pediatric hospital in November. The half-acre piece of property is adjacent to the current compound that houses 75 orphans, nearly 600 school children, feeds as many as 17,000 meals each month and a church of more than 500 Haitians.

The Walls, overwhelmed with news of last week’s events, have wondered why they are not there. “It’s hard when people tell us that ‘it’s a good thing you’re not there,’” Wall said. “While I understand what they are saying–it is difficult to think we might be able to do something more if we were there.”