News

Brief: Greeks help Haiti

Posted on Jan. 21, 2010, at 12:27 a.m.

The news of the recent earthquake in Haiti caught Chiara Amendola’s eye in a big way. A sister of Alpha Phi, Amendola had previously read about Partners in Health, an organization that offers health care in underdeveloped countries. She decided she needed to do something for their Haiti operations.

“[Partners in Health] was the first thing I thought of when I heard the news,” Amendola said.

Teaming with Sigma Chi, Amendola organized a bake sale to collect donations. All proceeds will go directly to the relief fund for Partners in Health. The bake sale was held Wednesday afternoon in Memorial Union. Amendola hopes to run it for the remainder of the week as well.

Those wishing to make donations outside the bake sale may e-mail chiara.amendola@umit.maine.edu

Cody Bishop, president of Kappa Sigma, is also encouraging his fraternity and members of the University of Maine community to help. The fraternity’s national Web site, kappasigma.org, offers links to the Red Cross and the Bush Clinton Haiti Relief Fund.

The fraternity’s national leader, Bill Betz, is urging all chapters of Kappa Sigma to donate.

Professors on campus will add to the UMaine relief help. Velma, a band consisting of several professors and local talents, will perform at Verve in Orono on Sunday Jan. 24. Velma is a blend of jazz, blues, pop and country.

The show will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and donations will be accepted to assist Haiti disaster relief.

Although no burritos will be available, Verve will serve wine, spirits, coffee and pastries.

Campus Currents: Disaster in Haiti