Feb. 1, 2010

Morningside College students, from left, Kaela Franken, Meghan Chapin, Lauren Deichmann, Kendra Kock and Amber Murphy pose with some of the 180 health kits that will be sent to Haiti to aid earthquake victims.

Morningside College students raise $1,400 for Haitian relief

A fund-raising effort initiated by six Morningside College students collected $1,400 for health kits that will be sent to Haiti to aid earthquake victims.

The students, all members of the Morningside College Leadership Academy, solicited donations from students, faculty and staff. Morningside fraternities and sororities also assisted in raising money for the relief project. After a week of fund raising, the students used the money they collected to purchase basic necessities for Haitians who were forced to leave their homes because of the Jan.12 earthquake.

On Feb. 1, Morningside students gathered in the Olsen Student Center lobby to assemble 180 health kits. Each kit consisted of a hand towel, washcloth, comb, nail file or fingernail clippers, bar of soap, a toothbrush and six adhesive plastic bandages – all packed inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.

The completed health kits will be turned over to the United Methodist Committee on Relief for shipment and distribution in Haiti.

The Morningside students who organized the aid effort were Meghan Chapin of Carson, Iowa; Lauren Deichmann of Marcus, Iowa; Kaela Franken of Early, Iowa; Kendra Kock of Breda, Iowa; Amber Murphy of Rio Rancho, N.M.; and Sarah Simmons of Des Moines, Iowa.

The Morningside College Leadership Academy is an organization for upper-class students who are interested in developing and improving their leadership skills. Members participate in seminars, organize community service projects and interact with area government and business leaders.