UNH Sorority sells ribbons to raise money for Haiti

     The members of a UNH sorority have started a two week fundraiser on campus to raise money to help the victims of the earthquake that left Haiti in rubble last month.
     The sisters of the Kappa Delta Sorority have started a fundraiser called "Kappa Delta's Red Ribbons for Haiti" in which the sisters sell red ribbons to raise money for Haiti. All the proceeds from the sales will go to the American Red Cross to help relief efforts.
     "Haiti does not have the technology or organizations to help them like we do in the United States," said Molly Izbicki, Kappa Delta's Vice President of Community Service.    "With Kappa Delta collecting donations for the Red Cross, it will in turn help the people of Haiti come back from this disaster."
      The fundraiser started this past Monday, and will continue until Feb. 12. Donations are accepted in the MUB on weekdays during common exam time from 12:40-2 p.m. For a $1 donation the person donating will receive a red ribbon for their support to the Haiti relief effort.  According to Izbicki, Kappa Delta raised $112 in the first three days of the fundraiser. Their ultimate goal is $300.
      "With the recent economy and a majority of the support we are receiving coming from college kids, we understand money is tight," said Izbicki. "So any amount of money people can donate will help. We have had donations ranging from the $1 for the ribbons, to $10 which will help our cause."
       Izbicki mentioned how important philanthropy is to Kappa Delta, which is part of why they are starting this fundraiser.
      "We strive to achieve many things including community involvement, and service," she said. "Raising awareness and helping in any way we can is our ultimate goal. The main purpose of this fundraiser is to raise money for the Red Cross, but we are also hoping that we can spread awareness throughout Durham and the surrounding communities."
      Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, was shaken on Jan. 12, 2010 by an earthquake with the magnitude reaching 7.0, the most powerful earthquake to hit Haiti in a century, according to CNN.
     Since the earthquake hit there have been numerous ways people can donate money for relief in Haiti. People can either donate money at a fundraiser such as Kappa Delta's fundraiser, send money to organizations such as the American Red Cross, donate from the comfort of their living room and or even send a donation by simply texting on their cell phone.
     Izbicki said the decision to do this fundraiser was a mutual agreement between the entire sorority. "When we came back from winter break our chapter wanted to do something to help out with Haiti relief efforts," said Izbicki. "We had a lot of ideas floating around, but after brainstorming at our meeting, and we all decided on Red Ribbons for Haiti."
    The sisters of Kappa Delta working the table are happy for the most part with the results they have seen in the first three days.
    "I think so far everything has been going pretty well," said freshman Kappa Delta sister Christiane Lynch. "We only have the table open for an hour and a half a day, and for the first three days I think $112 is a great start."
    Jesse Fand, a sophomore, was impressed with the efforts being made by Kappa Delta.     "I'm shocked by how quickly they got something together right after Winter Break to help Haiti," he said. "There can never be too much help in a time like this so this is great what they are doing."
     Izbicki was also quick to mention how impressed she was from the effort put forth from the members of Kappa Delta.
    "The girls have been so helpful in promoting and volunteering with this cause," she said.  "Everyone is behind and supports helping Haiti 100 percent and some girls have even been talking about going to help rebuild during spring break and when school gets out in the spring."
     If all goes well with the fundraiser out of the MUB, the sisters of Kappa Delta are hoping to go out to the general public in towns such as Lee and Portsmouth in hope to raise more money, according to Izbicki.
    "We haven't thought about going out to local businesses too much yet," she said. "We will just have to wait and see how things go by next Friday."
     A Facebook page has been started announcing the fundraiser with 254 people already showing their support by joining the page. Through the Facebook page, other chapters of the Kappa Delta Sorority have started to use the same idea to help raise money for Haiti relief. According to Izbicki the Beta Psi Chapter at Arizona State has picked up the idea.    Thanks to the efforts being made by the Kappa Delta chapter here at UNH, this fundraiser has started to take flight even across the country.
     Kappa Delta's fundraiser isn't the only one that has come up around the campus. A group of about 25 students started a fundraiser last week called "One Less Beer for Haiti" to raise money for Haiti. There are also many other organizations around campus starting fundraisers for Haiti, according to Izbicki.
     "I think it's a great way to help out, the way all the organizations are," she said. "It's great we all do our own benefits, but it's good to know we can all come together for the same cause."