PETERBOROUGH — The Peterborough Merchants Marketing Alliance has come together to raise money for Haiti relief through their Hearts for Haiti campaign.

Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Jacqueline Goohs, owner of the Magic Flute Children’s Toys & Children’s Clothing in the Monadnock Community Plaza, said she could not tear herself away from the horror she was seeing in Haiti through the media.

On Jan. 12, a series of earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 7.3, devastated Haiti. The estimated death toll has risen to150,000.

On Saturday, Goohs said death of a young girl who had been pulled from a collapsed building soon after the quake really shook her.

“She came out, they took her to a hospital and she died in the hospital because they didn’t have any help for her. They found her right away. They got to her. They thought she was going to be fine. Her bones had been crushed — there were no pain killers.”

Goohs said she was inspired to change a Valentine’s Day fundraiser that was to have benefited women who have been victim’s of violence to instead raise money for Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children.

“It was something that came through me. I’m just a vehicle,” Goohs said.

About a week later at a Peterborough Merchants Marketing Alliance meeting Goohs, whose store has only been open for six months, worked up the courage to share her idea. Goohs said she felt like the new kid on the block surrounded by sage business owners. Everyone loved the idea and immediately wanted to join in, she said.

“It’s funny. I went and expressed my idea and they took everything to the next level, which is lovely. It’s like a beautiful flower blossoming, seeing my idea come to fruition. ... I was just trying to figure out how, little me, how could I do something. We’re all on a budget. We’re all tight. I’m a new business. But the business has a presence and a power and I feel that now.”

So far, 26 businesses have joined the campaign. “Everybody’s feeling the devastation,” she said.

Goohs said she has already raised $200 in the campaign. “I’m asking for a $1, $2 dollars and people are saying, ‘No $5.’”

The paper hearts that she plans to post in her storefront window to represent each donation have not yet arrived.

“Steele’s is donating signs and paper and Sims Press is donating the hearts,” she said.
All of the participating businesses will post the hearts, she said. “I want it to reflect the community that has come together, not the number, not the names,” she said. “You’ll start seeing them pop up in all area business.”

The Peterborough Merchants Marketing Alliance, found at www.thatspeterborough.com, was formed in July by local businesses as a grassroots collaborative effort in which retailers can cross promote each other, said Jim Therriault, alliance member and owner of the Peterboro Basket Outlet Store. Peter Robinson, owner of Roy’s Market, spearheaded the formation of the alliance, Therriault said.

The business alliance is separate from the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Therriault said.

After learning of the campaign, the chamber has joined, Goohs said.

So far you can donate to the Hearts for Haiti campaign at Jack Daniels Motor Inn, Green Angel Cottage, Pearl Restaurant, Cantine Restaurant, Red Chair Antiques, The Black Swan, Ava Marie’s, The Magic Flute, Roy’s Market, James Thomas Hair Salon, Peterboro Basket Factory Outlet, Annie’s Book Shop, bowerbird & friends, Van Campen’s Museum Quality Furniture & Lighting, Rebecca’s Consignments, The Toadstool Bookshop, Steele’s Stationers, At Wits’ End, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, Mariposa Museum, Peterborough Shoe Store, Sharon Arts Downtown Galleries, Peterborough Art Academy & Gallery, Joseph’s Coat, Tribals Rugs by Hand, Sim’s Press.

Goohs said any business can join the campaign. “Can you image? If it spreads all over New Hampshire, you’ll have hearts in all the windows across the state. That would be fabulous.”

The campaign ends Feb. 14.