Darcia Datshkovsky Saenz ’10 of Wells House lost no time in getting involved. When she heard that thousands of people in Haiti were dead after a devastating earthquake crippled the country Jan. 12, she began collecting donations in Reamer Campus Center.
“As a native of Mexico City, a place that has endured many earthquakes, I understand how much help Haiti – the poorest country in our hemisphere – needs,” Datshkovsky said.
Helping out at Reamer were Cybil Tribie ’11, a native of Port Au Prince, Anthony Perez ’11 and representatives of Circulo Estudiantil Latino Americano, World Around U and the Black Student Union.
Erin Delman ’12, a member of Geology Club and Ozone Cafe, has been leading a number of efforts. The Geology Club raised funds at last weekend’s Union hockey game, and together with Ozone House, Wells House and Theta Delta Chi, the club organized fund-raising luncheons at Hale House Thursday, Jan. 21.
There are two dinners scheduled for this evening – at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5. Proceeds will go to Oxfam International.
Also this week, Phi Iota Alpha, Union’s Latino fraternity, organized a fundraiser in Bronner House, and English Professor Judith Lewin hosted a Skype session with representatives from Partners in Health for several classes.
The Union effort intends to collect $4,400, which equates to a little more than $2 per Union student. Two dollars is the average Haitian’s daily salary.
“We may not raise a million dollars,” said Minerva Programs Director Thomas McEvoy, “but together, these small actions will undoubtedly impact people in desperate need.”
An estimated 200,000 people are dead from the earthquake, and more than 1.5 million are homeless. A massive aftershock rocked the country Wednesday, inflicting more heartache and damage.