Shenandoah University Continues to Respond to Haitian Earthquake
The SU community continues to respond and offer its support in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 12. President Tracy Fitzsimmons charged the Office of Spiritual Life with leading the university’s response.
The Shenandoah University community continues to respond and offer its support in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 12. President Tracy Fitzsimmons charged the Office of Spiritual Life with leading the university’s response efforts, which are already underway and are both immediate and ongoing.
“Haiti touches the lives of many people at the university. My husband and I, like so many others, continue to await news about our friends and colleagues in Port-au-Prince,”said Dr. Fitzsimmons, who has traveled to Haiti often for work and research over the past 15 years.
The Rev. Rhonda VanDyke Colby, dean of Spiritual Life, said an immediate priority at Shenandoah University has been identifying those within the community directly affected by the disaster. Shenandoah has two students from Haiti enrolled this semester, siblings Cindy and Jerry Saint-Fort. The brother and sister have spoken with their parents but are still waiting for news about their uncle and cousins.
"Many people, especially students, want to make a difference in an immediate and accessible way. Such hands-on efforts, like assembling the health kits, are all about student learning. This relates back to Shenandoah’s mission of educating individuals to ethical, compassionate citizens who are committed to making responsible contributions within a community, a nation and the world. Many people, especially students, want to make a difference in an immediate and accessible way.” - Rev. Rhonda VanDyke Colby, dean of Spiritual Life
On Sunday, Jan. 17, a chapel service will be held at 6 p.m. in Goodson Chapel as a time of prayer and solidarity with those suffering in the wake of this disaster. At 5:30 p.m., a Haitian soup will be served in the chapel lobby while people gather and share their latest news and concerns.
Plans are underway for a special chapel service at SU’s Northern Virginia Campus next week. Also, available on main campus are an interfaith prayer chapel in the lower level of Cooley Hall and a multi-faith prayer chapel on the main level of Goodson Chapel.
Financial donations for relief efforts are being collected by the university from any local community members interested in helping monetarily. Colby said the university, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, will channel all funds through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). This organization uses 100 percent of money received as donations on relief efforts.
To make a donation or inquire about UMCOR, contact Don Colby at dcolby2@su.edu or stop by the Office of Spiritual Life in Goodson Chapel.
Items for health kits that will be sent to Haiti are already being collected from across the university. The items will be collected through Thursday, Jan. 21, for assembly on Friday, Jan. 22, in the Brandt Student Center.
The items being collected for the health kits include:
· hand towels (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27")
· washcloths
· combs (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
· nail files or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
· bath-size bars of soap (3 oz. and up)
· toothbrushes (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)
· large tubes of toothpaste (4.5 oz. or larger, expiration date must be 6 months or longer from now)
· adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
“Many people, especially students, want to make a difference in an immediate and accessible way,”Colby said. “Such hands-on efforts, like assembling the health kits, are all about student learning. This relates back to Shenandoah’s mission of educating individuals to ethical, compassionate citizens who are committed to making responsible contributions within a community, a nation and the world.”Colby added that the university is already planning an event to package tens of thousands of meals for Haiti on campus in April through the organization Stop Hunger Now. The university is also examining a timeline for sending relief teams in a few months, once Haiti is more able to handle the volunteers. For more information, contact the Office of Spiritual Life at (540) 535-3546.
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