Student organizations coordinate aid for Haiti
Clare Lynch
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 12, several organizations and individuals at Smith have joined together to contribute to relief efforts.
Global Action Against Poverty Everywhere founder and president Heather Stone '10 is chairing the Smith Haiti Relief Committee, composed of members from groups such as SGA, GAAPE, Smith African and Caribbean Students Association, the Newman Association, MassPIRG and other interested students.
"The group is a way for us to organize ourselves to have a coordinated response and result in the greatest impact," Stone said.
GAAPE has been involved in efforts in Haiti for several years, particularly supporting Partners in Health since its founding in 2006. This allowed the group to begin fundraising efforts before classes even started.
"We were able to hit the ground running and were also able to quickly coordinate with the administration and other student groups," Stone said. "We were able to gather organizations from across campus and the Five Colleges together to coordinate our efforts to have the maximum benefit."
The committee has an extensive roster of events planned, with February dates focused on providing emergency medical supplies and immediately improving food and water distribution.
Stone explained that choosing an appropriate charity to receive the funds was a priority of the committee. A research group looked at several different groups before deciding on Partners in Health and KONPAY, organizations that have worked on the ground in Haiti for many years and are well placed to implement emergency relief efforts and strategies for long-term development.
"The Smith Haiti Relief Effort has a two-prong approach based on the needs of the Haitian people at this moment and in the future," Stone said. "Throughout the month of February, efforts with be focused on providing emergency relief in the form of cash donations for medical supplies, food and clean water. To this end, we are targeting organizations with strong reputations and a proven record of success in delivering supplies to those in need in the direct aftermath of the earthquake."
Global Action Against Poverty Everywhere founder and president Heather Stone '10 is chairing the Smith Haiti Relief Committee, composed of members from groups such as SGA, GAAPE, Smith African and Caribbean Students Association, the Newman Association, MassPIRG and other interested students.
"The group is a way for us to organize ourselves to have a coordinated response and result in the greatest impact," Stone said.
GAAPE has been involved in efforts in Haiti for several years, particularly supporting Partners in Health since its founding in 2006. This allowed the group to begin fundraising efforts before classes even started.
"We were able to hit the ground running and were also able to quickly coordinate with the administration and other student groups," Stone said. "We were able to gather organizations from across campus and the Five Colleges together to coordinate our efforts to have the maximum benefit."
The committee has an extensive roster of events planned, with February dates focused on providing emergency medical supplies and immediately improving food and water distribution.
Stone explained that choosing an appropriate charity to receive the funds was a priority of the committee. A research group looked at several different groups before deciding on Partners in Health and KONPAY, organizations that have worked on the ground in Haiti for many years and are well placed to implement emergency relief efforts and strategies for long-term development.
"The Smith Haiti Relief Effort has a two-prong approach based on the needs of the Haitian people at this moment and in the future," Stone said. "Throughout the month of February, efforts with be focused on providing emergency relief in the form of cash donations for medical supplies, food and clean water. To this end, we are targeting organizations with strong reputations and a proven record of success in delivering supplies to those in need in the direct aftermath of the earthquake."
Be the first to comment on this story