Amistad sets sail for Haiti to help

NORFOLK, Va. - The Freedom Schooner Amistad sails the seas as a symbol of freedom.

"This vessel is a recreation of the Amistad," says Captain Sean Bercaw. The original Amistad sailed the Caribbean in the 1800's and was used to transport slaves.

It is known for the famous mutiny, in which the black captives in the cargo bin revolted and took over the ship. They weren't slaves but free black men taken prisoner in Cuba, Bercaw says.

Bercaw's Amistad sails routes that are not far off from the routes the original ship once took. Instead of a ship of enslavement, the crew uses the ship to teach about freedom.

But as soon as the crew heard about the tragedy in Haiti they knew they had to carry more than just a message, says Sayzie Koldys a crew member.

"As a crew, when we heard about the Haiti earthquake we were talking as a group about what we can do to help," Koldys said.

So she went to the Granby Street Thrift Shop in Norfolk. Dorene Berger and her husband Donald have owned the thrift store for about seven months. They were watching the coverage of Haiti and were trying to figure out what they could do to help.

Right then the door to the shop opened and Koldys and the other crew members walked in. "It was just perfect timing," said Berger.

Koldys went to the store to buy clothes to take to Haiti. She says Donald Berger was behind the counter as they searched through the aisles.

"When he heard what we were doing he said they would discount anything we bought." Koldys said.
The thrift store donated bags of clothing. Dorene Berger said helping others in need is what it's all about. She added, "It's a really good feeling to give and I hope everyone finds it in their heart to give."

The Freedom Schooner Amistad--still docked in Norfolk--will soon set sail for the Caribbean, just like the original La Amistad. This time, along with the donated clothes and their message of freedom, they hope to carry something much more important. Captain Bercaw said, "Just having her there could sort of be a presence of hope."

AmistadAmerica.org