Jan. 15, 2010
Contact:
Elizabeth Klipp, 404-413-1356
University Relations
ATLANTA - Georgia State University students are pitching in to help the victims of this week's devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Members of the Georgia State Volleyball Team, for example, collected nearly $1,000 in just over 90 minutes from fellow students in the campus Library Plaza on Thursday. Assistant coach Ada Bazin, who encouraged the team to get involved in relief efforts, delivered the donation to the Metro Atlanta Red Cross chapter in midtown Red Cross Friday morning.
"I was overwhelmed by the amount of giving there was on campus," Bazin said. "Students were stopping and digging in their wallets and pockets for anything they could give. That was truly amazing. I think this tragedy has pulled at a lot of heart strings and we all hear the call for help in Haiti."
Georgia State's Haitian Student Association is also collecting funds for Yele Haiti and tangible items such as clothing, shoes, toiletries and bottled water that will be sent to the island community through a local Haitian church. Items can be dropped off at Room 446 in the GSU University Center.
The two-year-old Haitian Student Association, which is the only one in the state of Georgia, has about 70 members, some of whom are personally affected by the disaster, said president Rodney Alfred.
"We're trying to do all we can to help," he said.
GSU also has six citizens of Haiti who are currently enrolled, three of whom are Fulbright scholars in public health. All international students from Haiti were contacted by phone within 24 hours of the disaster and were invited to make use of various campus support services, including the University Counseling Center, said Heather Housley, GSU director of International Student & Scholar Services.
"The university is very concerned about our Haitian students and their families and is helping as much as possible during this difficult time for their country," Housley said. "We're continuing to connect with the students, to share resources and information as it becomes available and to assist the Haitian Student Association in their relief efforts as well."
Georgia State's Public Health Institute Student Association is also collecting monetary donations and items for the Haitian relief efforts. Donation boxes are located at 8th floor of the Urban Life Building. Clothing, sheets, shoes, blankets, non-perishable foods, hygiene products and over-the-counter medicines are being accepted.