The walk of a lifetime
09 graduate plans walk across nation to raise awareness and money for Haitians.
Shelby Dinsmoor
Issue date: 3/9/10 Section: Voices
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Jordan Dibb, a 2009 graduate, will embark on a walking trip from Minneapolis to Miami on March 27. Dibb plans to raise money and awareness for Haiti through donations and fund-raising from his walk.
Dibb said he felt defeated after over 1,200 job applications resulted in continued unemployment. He even met closed doors at a yogurt shop, where they required two years of experience selling yogurt.
"I've had years of yogurt-eating experience, but it wasn't enough," Dibb said.
After the earthquake rattled Haiti on Jan. 12, Dibb said he was in the perfect position to help.
"I have all this free time while I'm not yet working, and there are people in Haiti who are devastated, so I need to get over there and help," he said.
He called several non-profits to see how he could get involved. Meeting closed doors once again, he was offered no positions, only the opportunity to donate money. The non-profits wanted him to have natural disaster relief experience.
"I was getting really irritated with this lady on the phone from the non-profit. I just wanted to help. So I asked her, 'How can I get to Haiti?' … She said, 'You can walk,' and hung up," he said.
Taking her advice, he decided on Jan. 20 he would walk as close to Haiti as he could get - Miami, Fla.
Dibb partnered with Action Against Hunger, a non-profit that works in over 40 countries to provide food and clean drinking water. Together with the organization, Dibb plans to raise $100,000 in charity money for Haiti and the relief effort.
Action Against Hunger's Web page will begin accepting donations for Dibb's cause on March 15, and he has begun spreading the word. The website asks for donations starting at $5, but Dibb said he would be satisfied with $1 from every supporter.
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