Bermudian Phillip Rego, who gave up his business to give to charity, has received an overwhelming response.

Mr. Rego, 50, sold his landscaping company, Ideal Homes and Gardens, in March this year. Then a chance meeting with Charles Le Morzellec who runs the Eden Garden orphanage in Haiti, changed his life.

Now the father of two grown children plans to adopt a 10-year-old girl from the orphanage located near the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, and has dedicated his life to raising thousands of dollars to support the organisation.

After The Royal Gazette ran his story yesterday, Mr. Rego said he has been inundated by the response with e-mails from all over the world.

He said: "It's amazing. I have e-mails from Mexico, Virginia and all kinds of places in the US. People have donated online but I don't know who they are.

"It has just been overwhelming. I want to say thank you so much to the people who gave. They are calling and as they are on the phone they're saying their sister wants to donate, I want to donate.

"Others are writing and saying it's nice to see a Bermudian helping out in Haiti."

The Warwick Seventh Day Adventist Church has given $10,000 and the Wesley Methodist Church has also pledged to help, according to Mr. Rego.

All of the funds will all go towards maintaining the orphanage which runs on $5,500 a month, the medical clinic and the food programme which helps the surrounding, impoverished community.

Not only is Mr. Rego helping the 60 orphans in Haiti, but today he and his family will start their two and half week visit to Iquitos, Peru for a second project.

They are forfeiting their Christmas ski vacation to help put a roof on the dormitory of an all-girl's orphanage and to deliver gift baskets to the community.

Then in January his wife, Maria, will go to Haiti to meet 10-year-old Guinese who they are in the process of adopting.

And they may not be the only ones adopting a child from the Eden Garden Orphanage. Mr. Rego said one woman called yesterday to adopt Isnalan — a 10-year-old former child slave.

He added: "I had one lady who called and wants to adopt Isnalan. She gave me all of her information. It could all turn out to be quite amazing."

Mr. Rego's email is feedmylambsministry@gmail.com or call him on 535-8934 or at visit his website www.feedmylambministry.org or you donate directly to the charity's Bank of Bermuda account: 010305498012.