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Aid drives build in the Tri-State
St. Joseph Grade School Kindergartners Will Day, left and Nate Johnson help with the "Helping Hands" project Tuesday. The Kindergarten classes are selling popsicles in the cafeteria during lunch all week to help raise money that they will donate to the Red Cross for rescue efforts in Haiti.
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HUNTINGTON -- Hosting church collections, selling popsicles and collecting construction and medical supplies are just a few of the ways that community members are working to help the earthquake victims of Haiti.
That's not to mention donating through their cell phone companies and sending checks to the American Red Cross and other organizations.
"It took people a couple of days to process what was happening there and decide how they were going to give, so (donations are) just starting to come in, but the people of West Virignia are so concerned as always," said Shari McGraw, director of communications for the Central West Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross. "I think they can identify with folks of Haiti because we sometimes live a rough life here in West Virginia too."
Among the many local organizations coordinating fundraising efforts are Marshall University and St. Joseph Grade School.
Students at St. Joe are selling popsicles for $1, with proceeds going to help Haiti.
"We're also having a school-wide dress down day for any donation the children want to give," said Assistant Principal Gail McDowell. The school hopes to raise $1,000, she said.
"Our children and a lot of children everywhere have so much, and we want to be sure they realize how we can reach out to others," McDowell said. "Surprisingly, they are very knowledgeable about what's going on in Haiti, and the sadness and devastation. They're excited about doing whatever they possibly can."
Ginny Dunfee, the physical education teacher at St. Joe Grade School, also is organizing a Hoops for Haiti event Feb. 8, in which students will get pledges for a day of basketball, with the proceeds going to help the earthquake victims.
It's important for them to realize "that even though they're small, they can have a big part in helping," Dunfee said.
St. Joseph Catholic Church was among the religious congregations in the community that collected money to help the rescue efforts in Haiti. The church collected $5,000 last weekend, said church business manager Linda Smith. It was part of an effort by the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston to include Catholic churches across the state in collecting funds.
New Life Church will serve as a drop-off site for International Missions Outreach (IMO) in Haiti. The church is located at 1101 Cedar Crest Drive and is collecting construction materials, medical supplies and food to help Haitians.
International Missions Outreach is based in Clendenin, W.Va., and is a non-denominational organization reaching out to the people of Haiti under the leadership and direction of Dr. John Hanson since 1976. It has ministries all over the island of Haiti, including churches constructed, schools, medical clinics, child sponsorship programs and feeding programs.
Marshall University now has a variety of programs under way to help out as well.
Chris White, an assistant professor of history and director of the Latin American Studies program at Marshall, is spearheading fundraising efforts there.
"My interest is to get as much creative involvement on campus as possible to raise awareness and get people to send just $5. Just $5 from everybody would make a big difference."
So far, he's been impressed with the concern he's seen among employees and students at Marshall.
"A lot of students of mine are involved in raising awareness already," White said. "They have a lot of things -- organizing a charity run, getting donation boxes set up in places across the city. They're in the beginning phases of what they want to do."
The Marshall University Society of Skeptical Inquirers has set up a table in the Memorial Student Center and is giving away cookies and brownies in return for a donation.
On Sunday, Jan. 24, under recreation director Dave Stewart, Marshall is hosting an open facility/donation drive at its new rec center. For a $5 donation to the cause, community members can use the facility, whether they're members or not.
White would like to set up on informative meeting so that Marshall affiliates and community members can come to learn more about Haiti and how to help, he said.
"That's important so anybody who hasn't heard details about why this happened and the scope of it can come and learn from the person in charge of Latin American Studies on campus and learn about where to send money," he said.
He urges people to donate $5 to Partners in Health (www.pih.org) or the Red Cross (www.icrc.org).
Church seeks donated supplies
New Life Church is collecting construction materials, medical supplies and food to help in the rescue and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. The church is located at 1101 Cedar Crest Road in Huntington, and will accept donations between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Here's a list of what's needed:
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: generators; heavy duty extension cords; jack hammers; hammers; saws - electric and regular hand saws; ladder extension and step (38' extension ladder ); step ladders 8 to 10 feet; nails #12, #16; wood screws 2 1/2" to 4 "; carriage bolts (with bolts and washers); cement mixer; block machine; block - 8" and 6 "; light fixtures - porcelain base light fixtures; light bulbs 75 volt - energy savers; metal fence post and barbed wire; batteries - deep cycle 6 v.; Cpvc pipe - 3/4, 1/2 inch; Couplings for pipe, L's, caps, Ts; 3" pvc and fittings, Ls, caps, Ts, Ys; PVC cleaner and adhesive; 1 1/4 pipe, Ls, caps, Ts, Ys and male and female adapters; 3 " to 1 1/4 reducer; work gloves; work boots; masonry tools; measuring tapes; crowbars, big and small; shovels; picks; wheel barrels - solid tires if possible; extra tires; locks, wiring #12 roll; plastic conduit 3/4", Ls and couplings.; black tape; wiring nuts; water pumps - 3/4 horse power (shallow well); welding rods - 1/8"; torches; army cots; tents; gas stoves; hand soap; detergent; bleach; brooms; mops; mop buckets; small battery radios; flashlights; batteries (all sizes); beds and mattresses; sheets, pillow cases; bed pillows; blankets; sleeping bags.
LUMBER: 2x4x16; 2x6x16; 2x8x16; 2x10x16; Plywood 1/2 " and 3/4"; 12 ' metal tin for roofing; Cement;
MEDICAL SUPPLIES: Triple antibiotic ointment; burn ointment - silver dene or generic; 4x4 dressings; gauze rolls - 2 1/2" - 4 "; peroxide; antiseptic wipes; pain medicines: Ibuprofen and Tylenol, aspirin.
FOOD: Dry foods, rice and beans; canned meat and fish; cooking oil; canned vegetables (mixed veggies, beans, corn, peas, baked beans); canned meats; bottled water; Gatorade; powered milk; cooking pots - 3 quart; sugar; salt; powered juice; powered milk; protein drinks; pasta; tomato paste; nutritional bars; peanut butter; paper plates; paper cups (hot and cold); plastic utensils; metal drinking cups and plates.
