the January 28, 2010 • Volume 106, No. 4
Etownian elizabethtown college
On the Web: www.etownian.com
One Alpha Drive • Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298
in the world
Haiti earthquakes propel students in charitable efforts
Brittany V. Daiutolo Staff Writer
O
n Jan. 12, 2010, a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, causing much devastation. According to BBC News, it is estimated that as many as 200,000 were killed and 1.5 million left homeless due to the tragic earthquake. On Jan. 20, a 6.1 magnitude aftershock occurred west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capitol. BBC News reports that although many are trying to give aid to the survivors, supplies are slow to reach them. Many unbelievable survivor stories are now circulating, including the miraculous tale of a man rescued 11 days after being trapped under rubble. Members of the Elizabethtown College community have decided to join in the cause and help the survivors of this tragedy. A dance cosponsored by NOIR and the Latino Union was held Saturday, Jan. 23, and each attendee was asked for a one-dollar donation to benefit the survivors in Haiti. The dance raised $656 for the Red Cross. The Business Office is also maintain-
ing an account where monetary contributions will be accepted to help survivors. Etown has decided to donate $1,000 to start off the account. If you would like to donate, checks can be made payable to Elizabethtown College with “Haiti Disaster Relief Initiative” indicated on the memo line, or can be made out to “The Church of the Brethren Relief ” and given to the Office of Civic Engagement. Your student ID can also be used to make a donation. In collaboration with Millersville University, the College is collecting supplies to donate to the cause. Rations will be flown to Haiti under a United Nations flag after the three-week collection period. Items needed include toiletries in Ziploc bags (washcloths, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, blankets, sheets, T-shirts, flip-flops or sandals), flashlights and batteries, towels, diapers, formula, and large buckets with lids. Students can find donation drop-offs at the Student Center and the Center for Global Citizenship. Unfortunately, several scams have been reported in which people actually keep the money collected for relief efforts. According to ABC News, one scam is an e-mail with the subject “Make Your Donations Now,” and it lists the British Red Cross Society as their organization. There are multiple spelling errors in the e-mail that asks for donations to be wired from Western Union transactions. If you are interested in donating through the Red Cross, visit www.RedCross.org directly to avoid the scam. Scammers have also used Facebook and MySpace to deceive people into believing
certain groups they are joining will donate the money they ask for to Haiti. One group had 1.5 million members before being disabled, according to The Red Tape Chronicles on www.msnbc.com. Rumors are circulating that Facebook would donate one dollar per person who changed their status to include the tragedy in Haiti. This page also warns about accepting every friend request you receive because hackers can post links to viruses on your wall or invite you to a fraudulent group. The FBI has issued some tips to stay protected from scammers and fraud. They advise not to respond to any spam e-mails or click on any links these e-mails provide. Be hesitant to believe people representing themselves as survivors asking for e-mail donations, or donations through a social networking site. You should verify the legality of a non-profit organization by using various Internet-based resources. Also, be cautious of e-mails containing pictures of the areas affected by the earthquake, as many of them contain viruses. More information can be found at www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm.
Images: services.stardock.net, wkbw.com
Do You Want To Help? Sadly, after the tragedy in Haiti, a great deal of scams have emerged asking for funds to help victims of the earthquake. If you do want to donate, make sure your generoity makes it to those in need. These organizations are credible and will make sure the relief goes to who truly needs it: • American Red Cross • Americares • Food for the Poor • Save the Children • Water Missions International • Direct Relief International • Convoy of Hope • Doctors Without Borders • CARE In addition, www.charitynavigator.org is a great resource to verify which foundations are legitimate. A little goes a long way in disasters such as these.
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