Haiti relief efforts springing up Mount Pleasant

Students struggling to comprehend the massive destruction and loss of life in Haiti this week may wonder what they can do to help the country in its time of need.

There are several organizations in the community planning on or are already working toward that goal.

The Central Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross accepts money locally for disaster relief, said Dave Weston, the chapter’s community coordinator.

“We need to keep the international fund up as well as cover the check we’ve written there,” Weston said.

A catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, Tuesday, which was followed by a series of high-magnitude aftershocks.

The quake reportedly caused up to 50,000 deaths and left as many as three million people stranded. The American Red Cross had pledged $10 million to Haiti as of Thursday afternoon.

The organization sent a five-person team to assess the situation and needs of the country and shipped disaster relief supplies from a warehouse in Panama.

Students can text Haiti to 90999 to charge a $10 donation to their phone bill, through which nearly $3 million has already been raised as of Thursday afternoon, Weston said.

Other centers accepting donations include the local American Red Cross chapter, at 215 E. Broadway St., and Web sites including www.redcross.org and Yahoo.

Weston said to specify the funds for Haiti when donating in person.

Only monetary donations will be accepted, though other amenities are welcomed for local disaster relief.

On-campus help

Students interested in helping have several options on campus.

Cornerstone Church, 2214 S. Lincoln St., is hosting a spaghetti fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. today in order to finance a mission trip to Haiti.

Pastor Chad Brown said the church had already planned a trip to Haiti to fix wells prior to the earthquakes.

“It’s just a couple of churches who have banded together to fix wells,” Brown said, calling the work a grassroots effort with a Free Methodist Church in Breckenridge.

The missionaries will depart for two weeks Feb. 15.

The church’s last trip to the impoverished country resulted in 14 well repairs and clean water provided for 150,000 Haitians, Brown said. Cornerstone Church will host a charity night at Crankers Coney Island, 1207 E. Pickard St., from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

Fifteen percent of the profits and all tips collected will go toward the trip. Cornerstone also is selling $1 water bottles for the same purpose.

The Central Michigan University Volunteer Center’s next videocast on YouTube may highlight other methods of assistance when it is posted during the second half of next week.

“We’re going to be talking about what people can do with Haiti,” said Chris Patterson, Campus Outreach student liaison for the Volunteer Center.

St. Mary’s University Parish, 1405 S. Washington St., also is collecting donations.

“What we’ve done is to connect with Catholic Relief Services, which is in the midst of dispatching help,” said Jeremy Priest, pastoral associate of the church.

Donations can be dropped off at St. Mary’s or during Sunday services.

“Pray for them,” Priest said. “Haiti’s an area that’s been devastated by natural disasters over and over.”

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.