Sometimes trauma hits close to home. On Jan. 12, Haiti’s worst recorded earthquake in nearly 200 years left several thousands dead and still more without food, clothing and clean water. While the earthquake primarily affects those living in Haiti, family members and friends in the UVU community suffer as they mourn the trials of their loved ones.
According to UVU French club faculty advisor Gloria Gilmore, the school currently has seven students enrolled originally from Haiti, several of which have had limited or no contact with their families since the disaster struck last week. This past Jan. 20 and 21 members of the faculty and French club led by club president Zac Whitmore and members Erin Mccawley and Keesha Terrill organized a fundraiser in an effort to help the student’s families residing in Haiti. The proceeds will go to Latter Day Saint Philanthropies to meet the needs of the families during the crisis.
“The faculty wanted us to do something to help the students here at UVU,” said Mccawley. “We decided to do a bakesale and let the money raised go toward helping the families of the students, we just wanted to help.”
Although the bakesale was a huge success raising just over $900, there still remains a need for aid.
“This was a great way for students to show how much they care,” said Gilmore, “even though the bakesale is over we can still accept donations.” The organizers of the fundraiser recommend those wishing to help get in contact with a local volunteer group or visit the Language Department Office.
Other campus organizations including UVUSA and the UVU African Club have been collecting cash donations among other things to assist those in need.
“I would encourage all of us to consider participating in at least some credible endeavor, on campus or off, that is working to alleviate the suffering we are witnessing,” said President Matthew Holland in an email to various faculty and staff. “As an institution committed to global engagement, in addition to the basic demands of our common humanity, we should do no less.”
Organizations requesting donations to assist in the relief effort you may want to check out:
Catholic Relief Services: www.catholicrelief.org
Church World Service: (Relief ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations of the National Council of Churches.) www.churchworldservice.org
Doctors Without Borders: (Has 800 medical staffers in Haiti and is working to re-establish an operating surgical center.) donate.doctorswithoutborders.org
InterAction has a list of agencies responding and how to donate to them. Find it here: www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
International Rescue Committee: www.theirc.org/donate/donate-now-haiti or call 1-877-REFUGEE.
Islamic Relief USA’s “Haiti Emergency”: www.islamicreliefusa.org/donate-now.
LDS Church’s relief efforts in Haiti: give.lds.org/emergencyresponse.
Partners in Health: (A medical relief organization headquartered in the U.S. that has nine hospitals/clinics in Haiti.) www.pih.org/home.html
Red Cross International Response Fund: 1-800-RED-CROSS or www.utahredcross.org. Donate $10 automatically via text message by sending the text message “Haiti” to 90999.
Save the Children Haiti Earthquake Children in Emergency Fund: https://secure.savethechildren.org/01/web_e_haiti_earthquake_10
