Help Haitian BCC Students Head Home

Dear Colleagues in Learning:

The devastating earthquake in Haiti has had a profound impact throughout the world. Many of us continue to look for ways to help ease the suffering of the millions of people directly affected. In fact, some of those most affected are our own Haitian students who have families and loved ones who reside in Haiti. Many have lost family members and friends. At the same time they report that survivors are struggling to meet basic life sustaining needs such as food, water and health care. To know all of this and not be there to help is extremely painful for our students.

What can our BCC Family do? As a caring community, I am asking you to join together to participate in a fundraising effort that will directly support our students.

About the campaign:

Since the earthquake, some members of the College community have reached out to our Haitian students to ask how BCC might be of assistance. Most of the students said they wished that they had the resources to travel back to Haiti to be with their loved ones even for a short period of time. They share a common need to touch base and see for themselves what is happening in their homeland. Of course, they also want to help any way they can in the relief effort.

To help them towards that goal, members of the BCC Family are launching a major campaign to raise funds which will underwrite the cost of airfare for any of our Haitian students who want to return to Haiti during the March vacation week. Our goal is to raise $10,000 during the next two weeks – a challenging goal, but working together I believe we can achieve it.  Please keep in mind that our BCC Family includes more than 10,000 individuals. If every student, faculty member and staff member contributed even $1, we could not only reach but also exceed this goal.

Many of you have already donated time, money and other resources to the larger Haitian relief effort. This fundraising effort, however, is an opportunity to directly help our own BCC students in a very personal way.

How to donate:

1. A special account has been created, and donations can be made payable to Bristol Community College.
2. Please forward your donation to the Student Accounts Office at the Fall River Campus or to the Administration Office in New Bedford and Attleboro.
3. There will also be several specially marked containers placed at various locations on all campuses where loose change (and large bill) donations may be deposited.
4. Individual college departments, student clubs, or other entities are encouraged to consider holding smaller local fundraising efforts. For example, the Student Senate is considering a special event, the proceeds from which will be channeled to this effort.
5. The campaign will run from February 8 through February 22.

During these next few weeks, we shall be meeting with the Haitian students to explain to them the purpose of—and the procedures to apply for—these funds. Monies will be disbursed through a local grant process. By working with a travel agent and other relief effort organizations, the College will take the lead in purchasing the airline tickets (perhaps discounted?) and assisting students with other travel-related arrangements. 

We are looking for volunteers to work one-on-one with the Haitian students to help them apply for the funds as well as to assist them through what could be a confusing process.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Steven Ozug Ext. 2150, Room G-225.

This is a college-wide initiative which I hope you will all support. Thank you in advance for participating in this important project.

Cheers!