UPDATE: Jamie and Ali McMutrie, along with 54 Haitian orphans, arrived in Pittsburgh thanks to the help of many. For statements from the family, please click here.
Since a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, Pittsburghers have gathered via social media to help those in need by coming to the aid of two Ben Avon sisters and their orphanage in Port-Au-Prince.

Jamie McMutrie Heckman, 30, and her sister, Ali McMutrie, 21, were living in Haiti at the BRESMA orphanage when the earthquake hit. They are pleading for help to get a group of children emergency refugee status so they can come to the United States. Pittsburghers have taken to blogs, Twitter, and Facebook to spread the word about the dilemma Jamie, Ali, and the children are in. The story has been picked up both nationally and internationally, but there is still a lot to be done.

After speaking to family friend and the creator of the Facebook group “Let's Help Them Get Out of Haiti” Jason Klanderud, it is clear that Jamie and Ali will not leave Haiti without the children and they are in desperate need of our help.

The group explains that the earthquake “left the two sleeping outside on the front lawn of their devastated building with 30 children.” It goes on to say that “all 30 of these children have been spoken for to be adopted into American homes.” The family has received two e-mails since the earthquake, both sent from a strangers Blackberry. Conditions are very bad, and, in the second e-mail, Jamie writes that she wants “to make sure everyone know we can't stay in Haiti and the kids will not live if they stay. Riots will start within two days.”

According to former PittGirl Virginia Montanez blog “there are two things needed, 1. a plane 2. refugee status for the children so that they can legally enter the country.”

So how can you help?

Email or call your representatives and let them know Jamie, Ali, and the children need our help. The “Let's Help Them Get Out of Haiti” Facebook group has text in the “Discussion” tab that can be copied and pasted and sent to your representatives. It also lists numbers and websites for local representatives and senators.

The group asks that we all please call or email immediately.

Congressman Jason Altmire already responded to the group, posting this: “Hello everyone. Just an update to the group to let you know that Sens. Casey, Specter, Congressman Doyle and I are aware and fully engaged on this matter. I have spoken to the White House and we are all working together to help. We will update you with more information as we move forward.”

For more information on how to help and updates, please visit former PittGirl Virginia Montanez's blog here. Follow Virginia and her updates on Twitter here.

You can join the Facebook group “Let's Help Them Get Out of Haiti” here.

You can read a January 2009 "Pittsburgh Magazine" article written by Jonathan Wander on the Jamie, Ali, and the orphanage here.

You can reach Senator Casey at (202) 224-6324 or e-mail him here.

You can reach Senator Arlen Specter at (202) 224-4254 or e-mail him here.

Please comment on other ways to help Jamie, Ali, the orphanage, and all those suffering in Haiti.