Hamline plans Haiti relief events
Students and staff packed health kits to send abroad last week.
Ashley Wirth-Petrik
Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: News
When a massive earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 12, the aftershock was felt across the world as aid organizations began to answer the call for help. Locally, Hamline and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have been part of the response. The first phase of their disaster relief efforts involves collecting and distributing health kits. The assemblage of health kits started last Thursday in Sorin lobby.
"I think Hamline helping out is great and may influence others to get involved," said first-year Hibo Ibrahim while she was helping organize health kits.
Wesley Center staff Megan Anderson and Health Services Director Barb Bester estimated that at least 60 complete kits were made on Thursday.
Students first learned about the health kits from a CLA Students Announce e-mail that was sent out on Jan. 15.
"I was happy to see that Hamline was doing more than 'tossing money' at the destruction in Haiti. Something immediate and substantive like health care kits is a good essential that many of the people are in need of," junior Rachel From said.
Other students were also pleased with the work being done at Hamline.
"I was really impressed with the speed that the e-mail got sent out. [It was] fast organization by the OSLV and Wesley Center," senior and volunteer Aubrey Hendry said.
Sharon Jaffe, coordinator of the OLSV, said her office is collaborating with others on Hamline's response. Currently, the health kits are the center of the relief project. However, a major fundraiser and an educational program [[educational program on what?]] are being organized for the spring.
Jaffe said students are being asked to bring items for the health kits to the Bush Student Center or Counseling and Health Services. Desired items for the kits include: hand towels, washcloths, combs, fingernail clippers, bars of soap, toothbrushes, one dollar (to go towards purchasing fresh toothpaste) and adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages. All items must be new and any personal notes or additional money and materials are prohibited due to strict rules that govern product entry into international countries.
"I think Hamline helping out is great and may influence others to get involved," said first-year Hibo Ibrahim while she was helping organize health kits.
Wesley Center staff Megan Anderson and Health Services Director Barb Bester estimated that at least 60 complete kits were made on Thursday.
Students first learned about the health kits from a CLA Students Announce e-mail that was sent out on Jan. 15.
"I was happy to see that Hamline was doing more than 'tossing money' at the destruction in Haiti. Something immediate and substantive like health care kits is a good essential that many of the people are in need of," junior Rachel From said.
Other students were also pleased with the work being done at Hamline.
"I was really impressed with the speed that the e-mail got sent out. [It was] fast organization by the OSLV and Wesley Center," senior and volunteer Aubrey Hendry said.
Sharon Jaffe, coordinator of the OLSV, said her office is collaborating with others on Hamline's response. Currently, the health kits are the center of the relief project. However, a major fundraiser and an educational program [[educational program on what?]] are being organized for the spring.
Jaffe said students are being asked to bring items for the health kits to the Bush Student Center or Counseling and Health Services. Desired items for the kits include: hand towels, washcloths, combs, fingernail clippers, bars of soap, toothbrushes, one dollar (to go towards purchasing fresh toothpaste) and adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages. All items must be new and any personal notes or additional money and materials are prohibited due to strict rules that govern product entry into international countries.
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