Apex, N.C. — An Apex church, which has been helping the people of Haiti through its annual Haiti Goat Project, is refocusing its efforts to help rebuild after a massive earthquake.

Four years ago, St. Andrews Catholic Church parishioner Charlotte Farin helped establish the Haiti Goat Project in Gressier, Haiti, which is located about 6 miles from the Jan. 12 earthquake's epicenter.

"Goats are a good dual-purpose animal. They can be raised for meat and they can be raised for milk,” Farin said.

The Haiti Goat Project helps feed children at Gressier’s Christianville Foundation, a mission made up of schools, medical clinics and a farm. The project also benefits local farmers because they are able to support themselves through raising goat herds.

St. Andrews Catholic Church, at 3008 Old Raleigh Road, raises money every year to support the Haiti Goat Project. The project also helps support the raising of fish, chickens and pigs to feed the schoolchildren.

"When you hear of a child that isn't going to be able to develop properly, because they don't have the proper nutrition, when you look around here and there is so much food and so much here, I think it is a natural inclination that you want to help,” said Ann Marie DiSerafino, with St. Andrew Catholic Church.

The earthquake did not hit during school hours at Christianville, so no one was hurt.

"We had parishioners calling (and asking), 'How are the children? How are the goats?'” DiSerafino said.

"The goats made it through (the earthquake) as well,” Farin said.

However, several buildings on the compound collapsed during the earthquake. To help rebuild, Saint Andrews is kicking off its Goat Project fundraiser early this year.

In past years, church members have raised $20,000, which helps feed 1,400 children a day. This year, however, all of the money will go to rebuilding.

If you would like to donate, visit the St. Andrews Catholic Church's Web site.