MRU contributes to Haiti relief
Photo by James Paton. The federal government has been matching Canadians’ donations and has allocated over $135 million so far.
On Jan. 12, the island country of Haiti was hit with a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that left the country’s capital, Port au Prince, in absolute ruins. With 80 per cent of the country’s population below the poverty line, it was apparent to the world that Haiti was in desperate need of some help.
Mount Royal didn’t shy away from this disaster and has been actively involved in raising money since the earthquake happened.
Since the earthquake, various clubs have taken the initiative to raise funds for different organizations like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, with all the proceeds going directly to help Haiti.
Three days after the earthquake, the Social Justice Club was patrolling Main Street asking for donations on behalf of the Red Cross. Getting involved in a situation like this is exactly what the club was designed to do.
“If it’s something we can do immediately then we do get involved immediately,” said Art Kung, advisor to the Social Justice Club. “We try to involve ourselves in issues that affect the world and make them known locally.”
After hearing about the devastation in Haiti, the Social Justice Club contacted the Red Cross and told them they wanted to help out. The Red Cross immediately sent over the supplies that they would need to fundraise.
“It’s been phenomenal,” said Kung, who is also a Christian chaplain at Mount Royal. “I think on Friday, we raised more money in just that day then we did last year for the Gaza Strip.”
After five days of asking for pocket change, the Social Justice club collected over $7,500 dollars to give to the Red Cross. Kung said he thought that the devastation of a natural disaster incited more compassion than war, which is afflicted on one population by another.
The fundraising at Mount Royal doesn’t stop there; on Feb. 5 a collaboration of local clubs at Mount Royal will be putting on a benefit concert in Wyckham House called Hope for Haiti.
This event is put on directly by students for students and demonstrates that the life of a student is never too busy that they can’t get involved.
The stereotype that students don’t care enough to help out is what Sarah Johnston, a second-year nursing student, has encountered while planning this event.
“I think people were really surprised that students were organizing something like this,” said Johnston. “Maybe they don’t think students would take initiative to do something like this…what happened in Haiti has brought a lot of people together to do a lot of better things.”
The event will have performances from two bands, Goodbye Beatdown and Makeshift Innocence, as well as an auction where students can bid on Calgary Flames tickets, Flames gear, a bike, sweaters from the Source, a two-night stay at a hotel in Cochrane, along with much more.
“It’s a lot bigger than we thought it was going to be, which is quite surprising,” said Johnston.
At Mount Royal’s Holy Cross Campus, proceeds from all massages in the Student Clinical Practicum Centre from Jan. 25 – Feb. 22 will be donated to the relief effort. A one-hour massage is only $30. For more information or to book a massage, call 403-503-4893.
