HAMMOND | The plight of the orphanage he founded eight years ago in Haiti is "very, very desperate" in the wake of last week's earthquake, Hammond resident Michael Fedele said Tuesday.

Happily no one from the orphanage died, and injuries were limited to a 6-year-old who suffered a broken arm and leg, he said.

However, workers at the facility also reported the properties owned by the orphanage to be severely damaged and in need of rebuilding.

The orphanage, its goat farm and a house for workers -- all located within 30 miles of the earthquake's epicenter in Port-au-Prince -- had accommodated about 150 children and 20 Haitian workers who are currently sleeping outdoors.

"There are dead bodies lying around," Fedele said. "There are medical issues by being near decomposing bodies."

Fedele said the most immediate need is for food and clean water.

"There's not enough food on the ground. There's too many miles between the drop points," he said of relief efforts.

Fedele said he plans to leave Tuesday for Haiti, both to find food for the children and to evaluate the situation.

"We need to get on the street with money to buy food for our kids," he said.

Fedele said the plan is to enter Haiti through the Port-au-Prince airport or the Dominican Republic to buy food in St. Mark and bring it to Maranatha, where the orphanage is located, and find temporary shelter.

A Haitian worker from the orphanage attempting to obtain funds wired last week reported mobs waiting outside the Western Union office, which had run out of cash, Fedele said. Meanwhile, the cost of food and gasoline has quadrupled since the disaster, he said.

Fedele pleaded for assistance from supporters.

"We need a lot of money for food, medicine and temporary shelter," he said.

Fedele is seeking direct donations to the nonprofit he created to support the orphanage or volunteer help in learning how to access donations made to large organizations in the wider relief effort.

Direct donations can be made by clicking "Donate Today" at lifefortheworld.com, where payments are accepted through Pay Pal or by credit card. Checks and money orders may be made out to Life For The World Inc. and mailed to P.O.Box 4025, Hammond, IN 46324.

Those interested in assisting obtaining funds from nongovernmental organizations, called NGOs, may e-mail Fedele at lifefortheworld@sbcglobal.net or lynda@accesselectricchicago.com.