Less than two weeks after the assassination of the president of Haiti, an Ulster County couple is reaching out to help the people of the Caribbean nation through an organization they formed decades ago.

Pierre Leroy was born and raised in Haiti, his father was a cousin of Haitian president Paul Malgoire, who governed in the 1950s. Pierre Leroy was forced to flee the nation under the regime of Haitian President Francois Duvalier.

In 1990, Pierre and Terry Leroy formed the organization the Haitian People’s Support Project in Woodstock to highlight Haitian art and culture.

What You Need To Know

  • The Leroy's founded the Haitian People’s Support Project in 1990

  • The organization supports schools and orphanages in Haiti and sends emergency food and medical aid to groups on the ground in Haiti

  • When the Leroy's heard that the president of Haiti was assassinated, they worried the country would be thrown into more upheaval

Over the years, they’ve expanded their mission to support Haitian orphanages, schools, agriculture and provide medical and food aid especially after the devastating earthquake on the island in 2010.

“We had armed guards in caravans, we went to every one of the orphanages in our project; delivered food, medicine,” said Terry Leroy.

So when they woke to the news that the Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home on July 7, they knew the country would be thrown into upheaval once again.

“The country was already in a chaotic stage, there were armed gangs all over the place,” said Pierre Leroy.

The Leroys say Moise’s assassination comes after years of public dissatisfaction with his presidency.

“There was no school, the population was terrorized, there were gangs roving the country, everything had come to a standstill and then he continued to remain in power illegally,” said Terry Leroy.

The couple receives calls all day from friends on the ground in Haiti. They send money often and are hoping for change.

“We’d love to see some form of democratic election,” said Leroy. “I’m glad that Biden is not going in, I am opposed to any intervention."

The Leroys say if Americans would like to support the Haitian people during this time, they can send donations to small charities like theirs that support people on the ground in Haiti.

“I don’t want them to think, ‘oh, poor Haiti.’ I want them to see them; to see that this is potentially a country of greatness. We have great music, great art, great culture; that all comes from the people,” said Leroy.