It’s been a more than a month since a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, and Islanders have rallied to raise money for relief efforts through a patchwork quilt of initiatives, including penny drives, bake sales, poetry readings and church collections.

These efforts have raised thousands of dollars for the ravaged Caribbean nation, but this Sunday, a larger event, featuring some of Vashon’s top musical talent, will take place at Open Space For Arts & Community.

The benefit — billed as a “Vashon Valentine for Haiti” — will feature an impressive lineup of entertainment and authentic Creole cuisine.

And what’s more, the event is being held for a very specific cause — to help two Haitian orphanages that have deep and special connections to Vashon.

Priscilla Schleigh, who owns the free-trade shop Giraffe, helped spearhead the event along with a steering committee of other concerned Islanders.

Schleigh described the event as a heartfelt response from “one island to another.”

“In the midst of this gargantuan devastation we want to help, one step at a time,” she said.

All proceeds raised on Sunday will go to help rebuild Brebis de Saint Michel de A’ttalaye (BRESMA) orphanage, and Three Angels Children’s Relief, an organization that includes an orphanage, health clinic and school.

Three young Islanders — Woodson Durston, 6, Valencia Crawford, 9, and Cianna Crawford, 6 — were adopted from the two facilities, and their parents have since maintained close ties to the organizations.

Krissy and Lee Durston, Woodson’s parents, serve on the board of directors of Answered Prayers, a nonprofit organization that supports BRESMA.

Their involvement with the orphanage began five years ago, during Woodson’s adoptive process.

“It absolutely took ahold of our hearts,” said Krissy.

Lee, a scientist who works for an engineering firm, has made twice-yearly trips to volunteer at the orphanage since Woodson’s adoption, and in early February, he returned to Haiti once again, to assess structural damage to BRESMA’s facilities and bring much-needed relief supplies, including food, water and tents.

At the time of the earthquake, 150 children were living at BRESMA. Miraculously, none of them lost their lives during the quake, though the orphanage’s facilities sustained extensive damage.

Now, most of the children have been airlifted out of the country to adoptive homes worldwide, including a group of 54 orphans brought to the United States in a high-profile rescue operation by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell that made national headlines on Jan. 19.

However, as of last week, 22 orphans remained in the shell of what is left of the BRESMA facility.

“Our goal is to get them all out as fast as possible— it’s literally a matter of life and death,” Krissy said, as she described how the remaining orphans and their caretakers are now living outside.

One of the youngest children who had been forced to live outdoors has died of typhoid, Krissy said, adding that she feared that lack of sanitation and exposure to flies, mosquitos and the elements will continue to take a toll on the group of orphans.

According to Michelle Crawford, mother to Valencia and Cianna, the Three Angels facility, located near BRESMA, fared somewhat better.

All of the orphans residing at Three Angels have now been airlifted out of the country, Crawford said, adding that the school and medical clinic affiliated with the organization had now reopened.

But she said it is important, for the sake of so many Haitian children who lost their parents in the earthquake, to quickly repair both orphanages.

“The first order of business is to get the orphanages fixed, to make room for more children,” Crawford said, adding that she is hopeful Sunday’s benefit at Open Space will be a step forward in that process.

“We want to give money to organizations we can track, and Islanders are going to stay involved in these orphanages,” she said.

“Vashon Valentine for Haiti” will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at Open Space for Arts & Community, 18870 103rd Ave. S.W. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. Kids 5 and younger are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Blue Heron, Vashon Bookshop, Giraffe and Books by the Way.

Performers at the show will include Steve Amsden, Paul Colwell, Marita Ericksen, Free Range Folk Choir, Mark Graham and Orville Johnson, Geoff Johns, Geordie’s Byre, Kevin Joyce, Jennifer and Andy Krikawa, Ian Moore, Darryl Redeker and Sarah Perlman, The Riptide Ramblers, Vashon Island Youth Chorus, Mark Wells and Rebecca Wittman.