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SBU campus rallies to help devastated Haiti

The massive earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 reduced much of the capital city of Port-au-Prince to rubble and killed an estimated 150,000 people.

St. Bonaventure University has joined the worldwide effort to help. Through the consolidated efforts of SBU offices and organizations shown at right, St. Bonaventure students and staff have organized collections for money, personal care items and other supplies desperately needed by the Haitian people.

Five First Responses

Ways in which the St. Bonaventure has helped or is planning to help the Haiti relief effort:

1. Collection for Food For The Poor
   University Ministries held a special collection at Masses on Sunday, Jan. 24th, and raised $1,010.32. All of the money will be sent to Food for the Poor.
   
   
2. Boot Drive, Friday, Jan. 29, 7-10
   More than 100 SBU students joined Olean firefighters at  intersections in the city, urging motorists to drop donations into fire boots. The effort raised some 
   $5,400. The event was co-sponsored by Students in Free Enterprise, BonaResponds, University Ministries and the Center for Community Engagement. To read event news release, click here.
   
   
3. 50 Minutes Haiti
   This multi-media educational piece is being developed to introduce the campus community to Haiti – the country, the people and the impact of the disaster. The purpose of the material is to provide a focused effort to help the campus community get a sense of the situation in Haiti. It will include a 10-minute reflection component. Project Coordinator is Larry Sorokes, director of the Center for Community Engagement.
   
   
4. Direct Service
   BonaResponds will explore opportunities for direct involvement in a variety of relief-related efforts. As health and safety concerns in Haiti are stabilized, and volunteer opportunities open, a service trip(s) to Haiti could be organized.
   
   
5. AmeriCorps Cattaraugus County, Jan. 25-Feb 3. 
   The organization Mission Central of Mechanicsburg, Pa., will send a truck to Olean to collect supplies that have been donated and boxed (e.g., hand towels, washcloths, bath-size soap, combs, toothbrushes and other personal care products that can be distributed). You may:
   1. Donate items at the Center for Community Engagement in Merton Center.
   2. Volunteer to pack items for AmericCorps through Larry Sorokes at the CCE.

What can SBU students, faculty and staff do?

• Contribute to the creation of the 50 Minutes Haiti educational segment. Contact Larry Sorokes
  
  
• AmeriCorps Cattaraugus Collection, contact Larry Sorokes in the Center for Community Engagement.
  • Donate personal care items at the Center for Community Engagement in Merton Center.
  • Volunteer to pack items for AmericCorps through Larry Sorokes at the CCE.
    
    
• Make a donation to the Bonaventure-Haiti-Response Fund at University Ministries in Merton Center.
  
  
• Keep an eye out for notices of other opportunities to become more personally involved in a direct service opportunity through BonaResponses or SIFE.