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JCB backhoe driving across America for Haiti

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - It has been more than two and a half months since an earthquake devastated Haiti and relief efforts are still under way.

Plenty have helped Haiti through text messages or checks or packing up food and clothing, but it's a massive disaster with much more need.

One company from the Coastal Empire starting a long drive to help Haitians on the long road to recovery.

JCB is sending a giant machine from Tybee Island to the Santa Monica Pier in California to raise money for the American Red Cross's Haiti Relief and Development Fund.

"When we saw what happened in Haiti we got two of these very machines down there two days after the quake to help clear the rubble and start cleaning up from the disaster," Karen Guinn, JCB Communications Director, told WTOC.

WTOC's own Sonny Dixon emceed the event kick-off on Tybee Island and described what he saw on his visit to Haiti and why the help is so necessary. "I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, but the smell of death was ever present in some of those areas," Dixon said.

JCB heard the call, and with a goal of raising one million dollars, will drive the backhoe to 11 cities and hold fundraising events at each stop.

The Savannah Parrot Head Club started off the campaign with a $500 donation, hoping to keep awareness of Haiti's situation in people's minds.

"What we wanted to do was wait because there were reports people would forget about donating to Haiti and what it would take for them to recover," Sean Wilson, Savannah Parrot Head Club, told WTOC.

"Ware going to get the money into the hands of the Red Cross who know how to get it to the people who need it most," Guinn said.

When all is said and done, the backhoe will travel 3,000 miles in the Backhoe Across America charity drive.

The first stop is Atlanta, and you can follow the backhoe journey by tracking its progress at http://www.jcbforhaiti.com/.

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