As the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti was still recovering from the devastating earthquake of 2010 when Hurricane Matthew hammered the island nation earlier this month.
The category five storm hit the already-struggling country on October 4 before hitting Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Florida. According to a report from ABC News, the storm killed over 800 people and an estimated 1.4 million people are in need of food assistance.
The extreme damages and death in Haiti has not been front and center for Americans, possibly because they’ve been more focused on the tension and debate surrounding the upcoming presidential. But Demond Hill, a junior at Edgewood College, has not forgotten.
Hill and several other students have partnered with Project Haiti, a religious-based organization that works closely with residents of Jeannette, a small rural community in southern Haiti. Together, Project Haiti and Demond Hill plan to gather food and other supplies the hurricane victims need.
“The initial thought of this drive came from the overwhelming amount of media surrounded around how it would affect Florida, but you hardly heard about how it would affect Haiti, which is a country that has been experiencing unfortunate circumstances for years,” Hill said.
For Hill, this relief drive has two purposes: to gather the goods and supplies needed by the hurricane victims, and open the hearts and eyes of community members to help them see the importance of being citizens of the world by helping out the residents of Haiti in their time of need.
Donations of clothing, non-perishable food items, medical supplies (First Aid kits, Medications), Hygiene kits (specifically feminine hygiene products), and bottled water are in high demand.
Those who wish to donate goods or supplies can do so by dropping off their donations off with the receptionist inside the Henry R. Predolin building on the Edgewood College Campus. Those who would like to make monetary donations can do so at https://haitiproject.org. The relief drive will run until the end of November.
Apart from gathering goods and supplies for those in need, Hill also says, “I hope others are able to feel like they can help no matter how far away you are and no matter your race, wealth, or sex. Sometimes people need you and at some point we have to respond and do what is necessary to make sure other humans on this earth are not suffering.”
This piece was produced by a Madison365 Academy intern. To learn more or support Madison365’s education programs, please visit madison365.org/academy.
