Since the tragic earthquake struck Haiti, Mercer University students, faculty, staff and organizations have held a number of fund-raisers, both large and small.
Among the great tragedies of this devastating event is the loss of limbs, as doctors have performed thousands of amputations to save the lives of victims. One of Mercer’s most widely known initiatives may offer those with leg amputations hope for a brighter future and help them to return to their lives as they rebuild their county. Because the cost of prosthetics is so high, many in developing nations must go without them. However, Mercer faculty and students have pioneered technology that provides low-cost leg prosthetics to amputees in developing nations and it will now bring the program to Haiti.
The prosthetic program launched in 2009 with a Mercer On Mission trip to Vietnam, and now will be expanded to Haiti this summer, said Dr. Craig McMahan, university minister and dean of the chapel. Dr. McMahan, who coordinates the Mercer On Mission program, will travel to Haiti on March 17 with a delegation from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and American Baptist Churches USA to assess clinic sites for a Mercer-led trip in April to fit 20 prosthetics.
Dr. McMahan said that the initial phase of the project will occur in April, when a group of students and faculty travel to a clinic site and complete the small pilot project. Once that effort is completed, Dr. McMahan said that the next phase will begin after the already-planned Mercer On Mission trip to Vietnam, where another group will fit 100 prosthetics. Following that trip, Dr. McMahan said that the group of Mercer engineers who build the prosthetics will return to Macon to fabricate prosthetics for a return trip to Haiti in the summer. Dr. McMahan is working with a number of groups to secure funding to build a large number of prosthetics to fit as many amputees as possible, he said.
“This is the first venture of what I hope will be many ventures to Haiti as we work to meet this pressing need,” Dr. McMahan said.
Ongoing:
University Collecting Donations for the Red Cross
The University is gathering donations for the American Red Cross’s efforts to help Haiti through the Office of the University Minister. Mercerians are encouraged to bring contributions to Kim Adams in the Religious Life Center. Those writing checks should make them out to the American Red Cross and write “Haiti Relief” on the memo line. The effort has so far gathered more than $5,700.
Past events:
Tau Beta Pi Sponsors Valentine Fundraiser for Haiti
The Mercer chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, held a Valentine-themed fundraiser for Haiti, Feb. 3-9. The proceeds from the Valentines Candy Grams and Ribbons project went to aid World Vision’s food distribution effort in Haiti. World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization working to tackle the causes of poverty and injustice worldwide.
Macon Group Holds Swipe for Life Benefit
The Help Haiti Heal Committee on the Macon campus held a unique fundraiser designed to give the Mercer students and faculty the opportunity to donate meals from their meal plans to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Mercer’s food service provider, ARAMARK pledged to give $5 for every donated meal in efforts to raise money, within eight hours of the allotted 48-hour period, the donations had reached the cap of $5,000. The money will be given to the American Red Cross for its work in Haiti.
McAfee School of Theology Worship Service Focuses on Haitian Relief Effort
On Feb. 2, the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology dedicated its first worship service of the spring semester to the tragic events in Haiti. Dr. David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics, spoke on Christian responses to human crises, and Frank Broome, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia, spoke about his group’s relief work there.
A special offering was taken to support the relief work in Haiti by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia.
Mercer Nursing Students Coordinate Georgia-Based Haitian Relief Effort
Students from the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing in Atlanta coordinated an effort to collect supplies from nursing schools across the state to help the millions affected by the Haitian earthquake. The students from Mercer’s chapter of the Georgia Association of Nursing Students began their efforts the day after the quake, calling for donations from other GANS members, as well as leading a drive on Mercer’s Atlanta Campus. Associations from as far away as Brunswick responded to the call with donations of medical supplies, clothing, hygiene products and other basic necessities.
Caribbean Sound Concert Helps Haiti Relief Efforts
The Jan. 26 concert by The Grand Opera House benefited American Red Cross to aid in Haiti Relief. Five dollars of every ticket purchased Jan. 20 – Jan. 26 was donated to the relief effort.
University Worship Centers on Help for Haiti
The Jan. 20 University Worship service on the Macon Campus was be devoted entirely to the crisis in Haiti. The service’s offering went to Haitian relief and was presented to the Red Cross. Tracy Willis-Kight, executive director of the Central Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross, gave an update on the relief effort in Haiti and to suggested ways to help in the future.
