Volunteer Center coordinating student Japanese tsunami relief efforts

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Central Michigan University’s Volunteer Center is helping coordinate relief efforts from students campus-wide to help those affected by the recent tsunami in Japan.

Elway Pegg, public relations graduate assistant, said the Volunteer Center is working as a resource for students interested in helping with tsunami relief efforts. So far, the Dearborn native said he has seen a large amount of student, staff and faculty interest in participating in and generating fundraisers.

Wixom senior Kelsey Guiliani is one of those students.

“If I was living in conditions like that,” she said, “I wish someone would take time out of their day to help me.”

Guiliani and several other volunteers will set up tables from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 23 and 24 in the lower level of the Bovee University Center. The tables will feature statement boards, ribbons donated by the Volunteer Center and Japan relief T-shirt order forms. Guiliani hopes to raise $1,000 for the cause.

“She’s the first one to take initiative … in terms of a fundraiser,” Pegg said.

Guiliani has a personal connection to the crisis in Japan. Following her upcoming graduation, she will teach English in Saitama, half an hour northwest of Tokyo. She felt compelled to help the people she will soon be living amongst, she said.

Guiliani’s roommate, Birmingham senior Ashley Wasniewski, is one of the volunteers working to enact the fundraiser. Wasniewski’s stepmother is from Japan, and the tsunami has affected her whole family.

“(My stepmother’s) sister had to be evacuated from her home because of the nuclear explosions,” Wasniewski said. “My heart broke for her because she’s devastated and feels very helpless.”

Pegg said Guiliani is working as a liaison for the Volunteer Center to coordinate several tsunami relief fundraiser events.

“When people do come forth with fundraising ideas … we can immediately direct them to her and provide her with volunteers for her events,” Pegg said.

The Volunteer Center is going to continue coordinating fundraising efforts throughout the next few weeks.

Pegg said the center is working to help connect students interested in starting fundraisers to students interested in volunteering for fundraisers already in place.

“It’s really early, so (Volunteer Center-made) fundraisers are still being put together,” Pegg said.

All money earned through Volunteer Center fundraisers goes straight to the American Red Cross, which then goes toward Japan relief efforts.

Irene Little, Emergency Services program coordinator at the Central Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross, 215 E. Broadway St., said though the international Red Cross has not requested any help, local Red Cross units can collect individual monetary donations.

“At this point, we’re just kind of sitting by and waiting for the international Red Cross to ask us for some help,” she said. “(We’re) on standby if they need more help.”

Little said the international Red Cross made an initial donation of $10 million to the Japanese Red Cross society and is remaining in close contact with partners in the Pacific region.

-Senior Reporter Mike Nichols contributed to this report