BARRIE - The Barrie Police Service is collecting tents for Haiti at the Mapleview Drive Canadian Tire Store Saturday, Jan. 30 starting at 9 a.m. in response to a colleague’s plea for help.

A former OPP officer who is Haitian and currently working for the United Nations in the earthquake-stricken Caribbean country, sent an email to Barrie’s police department asking for help in sheltering Haiti’s new homeless population.

“I’m currently on ground in Haiti – I’ll spare you the graphic details,” he wrote. “We have entire families, children, staff members, friends, doctors, clinics, etc…all of which are in the streets with nothing left…Everyone her is looking for shelter and everyone is asking me for tents.”

There are as many as one million people without any type as shelter as bulldozers remove the ruins of shattered homes. The former officer asks for help in erecting tent cities as the country starts to rebuild.

Barrie officers will stay at the south-end retailer Saturday until the flow of tents subsides.

Their effort is part of an Ontario-wide drive to gather tents of all kinds and sizes – new, used, military, wedding, etc.), which will then be transported at no cost to Montreal by AMJ Campbell Van Lines and shipped to Haiti on Feb. 5.

An alternate north-end location is available. On Saturday, Jan. 30 only, tents can also be dropped off at the front desk of the police station at 29 Sperling Dr.

If residents don’t own a tent, event organizer Const. Cam Cooper suggests teaming up with friends, family or co-workers to by a new one that can be donated.