Penn State community responds to devastating earthquake in Haiti

On Tuesday evening, Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, was devastated by the worst earthquake ever recorded in the area. Thousands of people perished and millions have been displaced. Rescue workers and aid organizations, though hampered by the country's damaged infrastructure, are working to help survivors.

Several events are taking place at Penn State to help in the fundraising effort in the wake of the disaster in Haiti. Also, emotional support is being made available to members of the Penn State community who have been affected by the earthquake.

Organizers of Penn State-based efforts not listed here should send details in an e-mail to live@psu.edu for inclusion in this announcement.

How to Help

Cash donations, no matter the size, are the most efficient way to help because funds may be transferred quickly to the area. At the bottom of this announcement is a list of links to the Web sites of relief agencies involved in the effort.

To help immediately, text "HAITI" to 90999 and $10 will be donated to Red Cross International Relief. Similarly, text "YELE" to 501501 and a $5 donation will be given to Yele, an organization created by Wyclef Jean that supports Haiti. All donations made by text message will appear on the donor's cell phone bill.

University Park

-- From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 15 and Jan. 18 to 22, many campus student organizations will be collecting donations at a table in the HUB-Robeson Center on Penn State's University Park campus.
-- Those who plan to donate by check should get together with friends to donate one check rather than several, in order to ease administrative costs. To be sure donations are used in the best possible way, visit http://www.guidestar.org/ for information on nonprofit relief agencies involved in the effort in Haiti.
-- The University Office of Global Programs will be collecting donations during International Coffee Hour, held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. every Thursday in room 410 of the Boucke Building on the University Park campus. There will be a special Haitian-themed coffee hour on Jan. 28.
-- At 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, Project Haiti, a Penn State student group, will be holding a Haiti benefit dinner at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on South Frasier Street in State College, Pa. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door.

Penn State Abington

-- Students at Penn State Abington have taken up a donation collection effort after a student there lost his grandparents in the earthquake. Students are collecting money, clothing and toiletries. For the full story, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/44228 online.

Penn State Beaver

-- Students at Penn State Beaver have begun their "For the Love of Haiti" fundraising effort. It will run through the end of February. For full details, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/44236 online.

Penn State Berks

-- Students at Penn State Berks have started "We Are ... Helping Haiti @ Berks," with the goal of raising awareness of and funds for the recovery effort in Haiti at Penn State Berks and in the greater Reading community. For more information, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/44338 online.

Penn State Brandywine

-- Students at Penn State Brandywine have started a group to collect money and goods for donation to Haiti. For more information, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/44061 online.

Penn State Greater Allegheny

-- The Student Government Association (SGA) at Penn State Greater Allegheny has partnered with the Brother’s Brother Foundation (BBF) in Pittsburgh, Pa., to support the relief efforts following the recent earthquake that devastated parts of Haiti. For more information about the effort at Penn State Greater Allegheny, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/43941 online.

Penn State Lehigh Valley

-- Penn State Lehigh Valley students are holding a supply drive for victims of the Haiti earthquake. Donations will be sent to Lifechurch, an Allentown-based organization that operates an orphanage in Haiti. For more information on this effort, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/43945 online.

Penn State Worthington Scranton

-- Penn State Worthington Scranton students have organized two events to raise funds for Haiti. For more information on the effort visit http://live.psu.edu/story/44065 online.

Penn State York

Students, faculty and staff have undertaken a fundraising effort at Penn State York in response to the disaster in Haiti. For more information on the effort, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/43896 online.

Support

International students or scholars who need any special attention as a result of the earthquake should contact Negar Davis, director of global relations and promotion in the University Office of Global Programs, at 814-865-6348. Members of the Penn State community who are in need of emotional support should contact Penn state Counseling and Psychological Services at 814-863-0395.

Relief Agencies

Many relief agencies are involved in the effort to help Haitians get back on their feet. Direct links to the Web sites of several major relief organizations are included below. The use of official Web sites and proper research can help donors to avoid scam operations and ensure that their donations are used efficiently.

World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/en/

Oxfam: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

Yele Haiti: http://www.yele.org/

Doctors Without Borders: http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

International Committee of the Red Cross: http://www.icrc.org/eng

Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf#

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: http://ochaonline.un.org/

United Nations Foundation: http://www.unfoundation.org/donate/cerf.html

United Nations World Food Programme: http://www.wfp.org/

UNICEF: http://www.unicefusa.org/

CARE: http://www.care.org/

Direct Relief International: http://www.directrelief.org/Index.aspx