NU holds fundraiser for Hurricane Maria victims
Sarah Emmerling
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – From Monday Oct. 2 to Friday Oct. 6, Niagara University students and faculty participated in a fundraiser to reach out to the victims of Hurricane Maria. Several bins were placed around campus for collections, and monetary donations opened on myNU. The student body, staff and administration united in the effort to reach out to those suffering in Puerto Rico.
Andrew Hayes, the president of NUSGA, began the project after being approached by several students, who wanted NU to take a stand on this issue.
“There was a concern on campus that Puerto Rico was being forgotten,” Hayes expressed. “There were all these donations taking place toward Texas and Florida, but less attention going to the victims of Hurricane Maria, which was also extremely devastating. We have to remember that Puerto Rico is part of our nation too. I think that it’s important as a university that we do not forget that, because we do have members of our community from there.”
Hayes collaborated with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Campus Activities to set up the fundraiser. He spent about a week researching different foundations and the donation items that were most needed. He chose to deliver the monetary donations to the Belle Center, an organization in Buffalo that offers programs to benefit the community. The items that were donated were brought to the Buffalo Town Hall on Friday and then sent to Puerto Rico.
“They really need candles, batteries, baby supplies, flashlights, can openers and canned goods,” Hayes emphasized. “It’s about the little things that you don’t really think about, things that are commonly taken for granted.”
Bins were placed all over the campus. There were two in the Gallagher Center, one in the front and one in the back. There was one at the entrance to Dunleavy Hall and another in St. Vincent’s Hall. There was also one at the entrance to Clet Dining Commons.
“I wanted to pick locations where students and even the faculty and staff pass by all the time,” Hayes mentioned. “I wanted this project to encompass the entire university, not just the students. It’s part of our mission to give to others. We want to strive for that.”
Niagara Wire 