Charity clothes drive

UW-Stout to assist in Haitian aid

By: Eric Thorson

Posted: 1/28/10

The devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 is one of the most destructive natural disasters that has occurred in recent memory. The amount of damage caused by the quake will rival and possibly surpass the damage caused by the tsunami in Indonesia back in 2004, as well as Hurricane Katrina that struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. Even after the initial seismic activity registered 7.0 on the Richter scale, the country was continually bombarded with aftershocks with magnitudes of 5.0. The death toll has reached a staggering 150,000 with the total amount of lives lost expected to reach somewhere around 200,000.

Images of the tragedy have been strewn across the Internet, newspapers and magazines prompting numerous humanitarian efforts coming from people around the world.

Many people watched Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief, a fundraiser arranged by actor George Clooney. Some of the biggest names in music performed at the benefit including Madonna, Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen and Haiti native Wyclef Jean who aside from the telethon, also set up a charity foundation called Yele Haiti. The telethon that was broadcasted over the Internet and numerous cable television channels managed to raise $57 million to give to the struggling country.

It is not just those in the public eye who are making a significant contribution. Charlie Simpson, a seven-year-old boy from London has managed to raise $250,000 for Haitian relief through a sponsored bike ride with the total dollar amount still growing.

The catastrophe occurred more than 2,000 miles away from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, but the earthquake has struck a chord with the students and faculty here the same way it has with people around the world. The campus community is showing that it is more than willing to help those who are in need.

The Ally Center for Civil Rights and Civic Responsibility along with the International Office, International Relations Club and other campus organizations is sponsoring a clothing and new shoe drive to aid the victims of the earthquake. Food and water are still the keynote supplies that need to be delivered to the area, but in the coming months the survivors in Haiti, mainly in the capitol Port-au-Prince, will have a high demand for clothing and shoes.

The desired items for the drop boxes that will be located all around campus are gently used, clean summer clothing and new shoes in both child and adult sizes. The drop boxes will be located in the Memorial Student Center at the Student Organization Center desk, Service Center and the hallway between The Pawn and The Underground. They will also be located in the Merle. M Price Commons on the first floor near the stairs to Dining Services as well as in the Jeter-Tainter-Callahan dining room.

In addition to this clothing drive, a program is currently in the works that will involve the entire UW system. Every student from all UW campuses would be asked to donate $1 to the relief fund.

Those who wish to contribute through other programs are encouraged to send their donations to the American Red Cross or other reliable agencies. Any questions about UW-Stout's relief efforts should be directed to the Ally Center at allycenter@uwstout.edu. Its office is located in room 138 of the MSC.