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The International Student Organization at West Virginia University is collecting money this week to relief for the Chilean Earthquake.
"Change for Chile," which began Monday, will have a table in the Mountainlair today and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and donation jars at the Office of International Students and Scholars in E. Moore Hall throughout the week.
Dave Slusarick, a graduate student in education leadership studies, said the organization had already raised more than $1,400 for Chile through WVU’s Dollars for Disaster. He worries, however, the most recent earthquake has not received as much attention as it deserves due to the recent earthquake in Haiti.
"Just in general, people are less aware," Slusarick said.
ISO President Eileen Huang said she was also not aware of any other student
organizations fundraising for Chile but encouraged others to get involved.
"We are willing to work with other student organizations to fund raise for Chile," Huang said.
She believes the timing of the Chilean quake has affected fundraising, but encourages people to donate again, even if only a small amount.
"Even $1 from one person can make a huge difference," Huang said.
The ISO fundraiser is a penny war. Those donating put pennies in the jar of their favorite country, which count toward that country’s score. Any other type of change or paper money in a country’s jar counts against the country’s total. At the end of the fundraiser the country with the highest total wins.
Huang said there is no prize for winning but thinks the penny war is a fun way to raise money for a good cause. All proceeds from the penny war will benefit the recovery effort in Chile.
The Feb. 27, 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile struck a little over a month after a 7.0 magnitude quake devastated the nation of Haiti in the Caribbean.
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