Salvaging Haiti
Western aids relief efforts
William Steele
Issue date: 1/25/10 Section: News
Macomb and Western Illinois University are pooling efforts to provide aid to Haiti.
SGA President Darren Heard called a special meeting Jan. 21 to inform the campus about what they can do to help Haiti and to combine the efforts of these groups. In lieu of food and clothing, Ann Comerford Director of Student Activities said "(Students can send) Blood and money."
On Jan. 12, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake shook Port-au-Prince, Haiti, devastating this already impoverished nation. As long needed aid began to pour into Haiti from around the world, a second earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 hit just 30 miles west of what remains of Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, Jan. 20. These tremors have caused an estimated death toll of 50,000 and left hundreds of thousands homeless and hungry.
To compound the issue, Haiti has very little port and airfield access meaning only so much aid can come in at any one time. This has put a halt to efforts such as the program offered by UPS to ship clothes to the victims for free, and the American Red Cross will no longer accept donations of food, water and clothing. These items just cannot make it there any time soon.
Those in attendance discussed plans for an upcoming blood drive with the American Red Cross and fundraising efforts including a relief concert and the Give-a-Dollar program.
Volunteers from various organizations will work tables in the University Union everyday this week from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., encouraging students to give just one dollar toward the displaced people of Port-au-Prince. Should every Western student give just one dollar, the total would surpass $10,000.
Individuals looking to join Western's efforts should contact Ann Comerford at AT-Comerford@wiu.edu or by calling 309/298-3232. You can also make a one time donation of $10 by texting "HAITI" to 90999, the money will simply be added on to your monthly phone bill, or you can donate at www.redcross.org. To give blood you can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.givebloodgivelife.org.
A similar meeting is scheduled this Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. in the Macomb City Hall Community Room in order to enlist aid and volunteers from off-campus organizations and businesses.
SGA President Darren Heard called a special meeting Jan. 21 to inform the campus about what they can do to help Haiti and to combine the efforts of these groups. In lieu of food and clothing, Ann Comerford Director of Student Activities said "(Students can send) Blood and money."
On Jan. 12, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake shook Port-au-Prince, Haiti, devastating this already impoverished nation. As long needed aid began to pour into Haiti from around the world, a second earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 hit just 30 miles west of what remains of Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, Jan. 20. These tremors have caused an estimated death toll of 50,000 and left hundreds of thousands homeless and hungry.
To compound the issue, Haiti has very little port and airfield access meaning only so much aid can come in at any one time. This has put a halt to efforts such as the program offered by UPS to ship clothes to the victims for free, and the American Red Cross will no longer accept donations of food, water and clothing. These items just cannot make it there any time soon.
Those in attendance discussed plans for an upcoming blood drive with the American Red Cross and fundraising efforts including a relief concert and the Give-a-Dollar program.
Volunteers from various organizations will work tables in the University Union everyday this week from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., encouraging students to give just one dollar toward the displaced people of Port-au-Prince. Should every Western student give just one dollar, the total would surpass $10,000.
Individuals looking to join Western's efforts should contact Ann Comerford at AT-Comerford@wiu.edu or by calling 309/298-3232. You can also make a one time donation of $10 by texting "HAITI" to 90999, the money will simply be added on to your monthly phone bill, or you can donate at www.redcross.org. To give blood you can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.givebloodgivelife.org.
A similar meeting is scheduled this Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. in the Macomb City Hall Community Room in order to enlist aid and volunteers from off-campus organizations and businesses.
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