Oswego Photographer Making Plans for Return Trip to Haiti

An Oswego man dedicated to helping those in Haiti will be documenting part of his upcoming third trip to the impoverished country.

Todd Pierson will join volunteer organization New Life for Haiti for its week-long trip leaving June 21. Thirty hours of the visit will be focused on at least one Haitian family, who Pierson will record for his upcoming documentary.

"I want to go back and do a short film and document a family's life up close in a rural village," said Pierson, whose professional background is in photography, videography and marketing.

Pierson said the plan is for the short documentary to be shared with the public via social media and at New Life's annual banquet in October. He would like his work to spread New Life's mission and also bring awareness to the plight the Haitian people face every day.

"Hopefully this will bring what life is really like up close," Pierson said. "If you've been inside of a Haitian house, it blows you away that people live like that."

The village that Pierson will film in does not even have electricity, he said.Pierson first began volunteering in 2007 with New Life through his church, Life Spring Community Church, both of which are based in Plainfield.

He said he continues to go back because he sees how little those in Haiti have, and how much help they need. So far the organization has helped not only individuals in Haiti, but built a two-story, multi-classroom school that hundreds of children now attend. Before, the village had only a one-room, delapidated building in which to educate its children.

"Kids here (in Haiti) want to go to school, but there just wasn't any money (for them) to build any new buildings," Pierson said.

Pierson's portion of travel expenses are being covered by himself, funds he raised, and some expenses will be paid for by New Life. However, Pierson is attempting to raise enough money so New Life won't have to pay for any of his travel needs, he said. He set up a blog, www.haiti-june.blogspot.com, where those interested in contributing can do so.

Since there is about a month until Pierson leaves, he is hopeful he will be able to raise  approximately $2,000. He does also plan on visiting Haiti in the future to continue to provide help, especially since it does not take long to get there; the country is only a 2 and 1/2 hour flight from Miami, he said.

"It's amazing that a country that poor is that close to the States," Pierson said.