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H20 for Haiti!

In the wake of the January 12 earthquake, access to clean drinking water in Haiti is a critical need.  Therefore we are encouraging everyone to commit to a BOTTLED WATER FAST for Lent, in solidarity with the people of Haiti AND as a sign of our commitment to the environment. We will be selling aluminum water bottles with the slogan "H20 for Haiti;" the sale of every bottle will provide 450 GALLONS of clean, safe drinking water to people in Haiti!

Gwynedd-Mercy College has established a "Haiti Relief Fund" to enable members and friends of our community to contribute to disaster relief through a safe and trustworthy source. Our priorities include:

• Catholic Relief Services

• Global Health Ministries

• Any needs that come to light among our Haitian students

If you would like to contribute to this fund, you can send a check payable to GMC with "Haiti" in the memo line to Christine Eberle, Visitation House. (From off-campus, the address is 1325 Sumneytown Pike, Box 901, Gwynedd Valley PA 19437-0901.)  As of Wednesday, February 17, we have collected more than $1200! Many thanks to the students and staff of Alexandria Hall for raising $108 in "Hope for Haiti!" We will update you through this site about the progress of the Fund.

Proceeds from our annual Mardi Gras Celebration (February 16, 4-7 p.m. in the Waldron Cafe) raised $215; many thanks to the Human Services Association for coordinating the raffle!

An ad-hoc committee has been formed to brainstorm more creative responses to this disaster.  Betsy Stone Plummer, GMC's Mercy Works Program Administrator, is coordinating this effort.  To get involved as an individual or through a club, contact her at 215-641-5592 (x592 on campus), or watch our calendar page for up-to-date information about meetings and events.

Click here to watch a CNN interview with Dr. Karen Schneider, RSM, a Sister of Mercy who revived a two-month old infant pulled from the rubble and put her on a plane to Florida!  GMC students will be staying with Sister Karen in Baltimore during Alternative Spring Break!