Student leader organizes campus effort to assist Haiti crisis

John Heller, president of the Rotaract Club and communications officer of Phi Theta Kappa, has organized a club-wide effort to raise funds for the Red Cross International Fund. Lose change from students and faculty will' assist survivors of' the Haiti crisis

'Right after the earthquake, I had some students come and ask what we could do to help,' said Heller. 'So I made some phone calls to the Red Cross.'

Most of the funds that have been received come from donation boxes scattered around the campus and set up at club and sporting events.

Currently, about $1,000 has been donated.

Although this effort is primarily a student one, the contributions received are not limited to only the student body.

'There have been some outside community members and faculty members who have made contributions,' he said. 'My goal is $2,000 by (Jan.) the 29.'

Individuals know how important the donation drive is, and have been more than willing give to the cause.

'When I went to the Latinos Unidos meeting, the members there put together $30 to donate, just out of their pockets,' said Heller.

Haiti has been through much wreckage, and Heller feels that he has an obligation to help, just as if it were his family going through the earthquake trauma.

'The more I look at what is going on down there, the more I see they need help. There are 200,000 dead and two million homeless,' he said. 'When I saw the pain of people down there, it broke my heart. I needed to help.'

Heller recognizes that the economy is bad, and students might not have a lot to give.

'I set a $2,000 goal as a standard because an estimated 2,000 students come through the campus every day, so that is about one dollar per student. They can just give the change in their pocket,' he said. 'You can give up your latte or something else nonessential and donate that money instead.'

Rotaract is sponsoring another club effort to help Haiti. Members voted to buy a shelter box from Shelterbox U.S.A. This will be delivered by the organization and give food and shelter to ten people for 100 days.

'There is a danger now that survivors are going to be dying from dehydration and disease,' said Heller. 'Mostly I want to get people conscious of the need and start an effort. They are going to need long term help down there.'

With hopes of this effort continuing after he graduates in June, Heller wants the new leaders and students to be on board as well.

'I didn't come up with the idea. I just got it organized,' he said. 'Luckily there is a great student body here and we can get more done than what I could have done on my own.'

The International Club, Latinos Unidos, Rotaract, Phi Theta Kappa and Trio are all playing key roles in keeping the fundraiser on going.

'I think of how I would feel is I was in that situation. We can't imagine what they are going through in Haiti,' he said. 'Imagine if it was your family. If everybody does a little bit, then we can get a lot done.'