Retired Methodist minister, the Rev Edward Holmes, who has raised thousands of pounds for the country since he returned to Brighouse in the 1980s, said while people were shocked at what they were seeing and hearing in the news, he genuinely felt that as a result the country could be a better place.

The people of Haiti – the poorest country in the western hemisphere – have struggled for years and the country has been hit by many disasters. But none on the scale of the latest earthquake which has led to teams of rescue workers and volunteers working round the clock to help the victims.

"People can help by praying and giving," he said. "And I hope the donations on a large scale can help turn the country round." He understood some people would like to send goods rather than money but he said cash would help the Haitian economy.

"Transport is costly to send things out there. People can buy 'things' in Haiti and that benefits the local economy," he said.

But even sending cash wasn't easy as the banks in Haiti were not all functioning. "Initially I heard of what had happened from my son. Like everyone else all I could do was watch the story unfold on the news," said Mr Holmes.

One of his first concerns was for the mother of his two sons, his former wife Micheline, who is Haitian and works as an interpreter for the American Consul.

"There was no contact by telephone or email but she did manage to get a message to us," said Mr Holmes.

"She has other family members and we have many friends who we still do not know about."

Mr Holmes has also heard good news about a person he knows who lives at Carrefour – the epicentre of the earthquake.

"The news is all centred on the capital Port-au-Prince but other areas are also affected," he said.

Since he left Haiti in the 1980s Mr Holmes has raised money for Haiti and by coincidence his annual sale, coffee morning and lunch was at Central Methodist Church, Brighouse, on Saturday. The event was well supported and raised £1,616 and further donations have brought the total to £4,104.

Collections are also being held at Clifton and Bailiff Bridge Methodist churches and the Methodist church in Cleckheaton where Mr Holmes once worked as minister.

He said many other people would be doing fund-raising and among those he knew of were Danny and Sinead Coll, of Brighouse, who are planning a concert featuring Sinead with her sisters as The Brennans, Kate Ratcliffe, Lindsay Nicholl and Val Eggleton, all of Brighouse, are raising money and Heather Vento, a former Brighouse High School student is holding an event in Sheffield where she is a primary school teacher.

Central Methodist Church was organising donations which could be 'gift aided' and money would go directly to the church in Haiti through the Methodist Relief and Development Fund.

Mr Holmes said cash would help rebuild schools and re-equip clinics.

His own fund-raising effort was a personal one, which helped individual families with everyday living costs such as medical help. It also helped set up people in business including a dentist.

"But she doesn't receive the income our dentists here receive," he said. "She works in the poor area at Carrefour, she has one child of her own but has 28 people dependent upon her for daily living. In Haiti everyone cares for each other.

"Much of the work I did in Haiti was down to goodwill – and that is what I believe will happen now."

• 'These people deserve so much better'