Even small charitable donations can make big difference for Haiti

Not only does fundraising help those truly in need, but it can also help us, too.

Outside of the direct impact small charitable events can have for those who need help, it can have a big influence on the community doing the donating.

The Benefit for Haiti at the Blue Moose Cafe took place Friday to raise money for one of the only functioning hospitals outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that has received a lot of overflow patients.

The event featured readings of Haitian literature by students and two great performances from local musicians Billy Matheny and Haley Slagle, as well as Michael Withrow of 100 Hurricanes.

Items were raffled and prizes were generously donated from local businesses.

All of the students who read were from Jason Stupp's American literature class, and while extra credit was given for participation, most students volunteered long before it was offered.

That, to me, is what is truly heartwarming. It's nice to know that people care enough without being bribed with extra credit to do something good for others.

Stupp says participating in events like these help bridge the gap between different communities and shape our environment in meaningful ways.

The readings for the night were mostly entertaining, ranging the full spectrum from dark to eccentric.

Still, it was nice to see students putting themselves in the uncomfortable position of public reading, because they knew it was for something worthwhile.

The moderately crowded cafe itself was surprising. It was a bleak night outside, and the roads were less than accommodating, but that didn't stop the good times.

According to Stupp, the event raised roughly $300 to be sent to Haiti, which he felt wasn't bad considering the weather and all of the other events going on.

As I was sitting drinking my coffee, listening to one of my fellow classmates read, it really hit me that maybe we would be making a difference.

That somehow our participation would directly influence the life of someone in need – which was the true point of the night.

The community had gathered to do something positive, and that energy could be felt throughout the Blue Moose Cafe.

The coffee warmed my hands just as the generosity of the patrons did my heart.

It's easy to think that small events can't have a big impact. It's also easy to distance yourself from the problems of others far away if you believe that fact.

We must not stew in that complacency.

It seems easy for us, as students, to forget just how privileged we are. We have practically unlimited resources for anything we could ever hope to do, whether involved here at West Virginia University or the world at large.

Events like those Friday help to keep me grounded. Just because a disaster happened last month, doesn't mean they don't still need our support.

It's human nature to displace ourselves after the immediate threat is over.

We have to show we haven't forgotten.

Haiti relief is still fresh in our minds, and American efforts have been extraordinary.

But so were our efforts after Sept. 11, which was devastating on our own front.

I'm just afraid that after some time passes, our aid and support will dwindle, and Haiti will be left to rebuild on its own.

I just don't want the necessity of this to be minimized as the year moves on.

Help for Haiti can come from anywhere.

A few hundred dollars might not seem like a lot, but to someone with nothing, it could save their life.