The Standard

Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Michael Gulledge

Weeks have passed since the disaster in Haiti, yet relief efforts have not stopped. Former Missouri State professor Burt Purrington, who has worked in Haiti in the past, thinks they shouldn't.

"Virtually everyone who works in Haiti agrees that we can't just stop with relief of the impacts of the earthquake," said Purrington, a former anthropology professor. "We must rebuild even better than before and work side-by-side with our Haitian friends to help them build a sustainable future."

Purrington said the disaster left his closest friends alive but three of his past co-workers dead.

However, the struggles do not stop for survivors. Purrington said at least two dozen of his friends have lost their homes and all possessions. With no shelter, they are either sleeping on the streets, staying at camps or have moved to outside communities to stay with family.

"The pressure for food, medicine and shelter in these outlying communities is now becoming intense," Purrington said.

As part of a damage assessment with a group from Green Bay, Wis. called Friends of Haiti, Purrington plans to travel to Crochu, a small community in the mountains in Haiti, in March.

Although Crochu had no deaths nor the amount of damage that Port-au-Prince experienced, many homes and a small sewing shop and medical clinic Friends of Haiti funded are damaged, Purrington said.

The damage assessment will establish the most critical necessities for the group to come back with a large medical team in April, he said.

"I'll also bring funds to help rebuild the little clinic and sewing center and join my friends in the community in planning for future development," Purrington said. "I'll also carry medical supplies with me, and if we have enough funds, a food shipment for the neediest families."

At Missouri State, campaigning for the remaining $16,000 from the Bears Backing Haiti fundraiser continues. Last week volunteers set up collections at local McDonalds locations and decreased the amount needed to $10,200, said Christopher Polley, student body president.

With buckets set up at the First Friday Art Walk on Feb. 5, student leaders are moving forward with plans to reach their goal of completing the $50,000 donation to Convoy of Hope. Plans include another collection on campus Feb. 24 and 25. Polley said other events such as Panera Bread nights are still in the works.

"After we reach our short term goal of $50,000, we will begin looking at what we can do long term," he said.

Polley said the group that organized Bears Backing Haiti has planned events to spread throughout the month of February. Students who are looking to volunteer during the on-campus collections can call the Office of Student Engagement.

At the upcoming blood drive, the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will donate $3 to the Bears Backing Haiti for every student that forgoes the free T-shirt, he said.

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