NLA organizes backpack drive for children in Haiti
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance is a student-led community service group on campus, formally known as American Humanics.
The group is composed of students who are interested in volunteer work or hope to be involved with nonprofit organizations in the future.
Currently, the NLA president is Lane Dodson, with Cole Piper serving as faculty advisor.
The NLA hosts a variety of volunteer events, fundraisers and guest speakers who share advice to the group about what is involved with running a nonprofit business.
Though the earthquake that occurred in Haiti two years ago has lost attention over the past two years, NLA has not forgotten the detrimental effects that are affecting those in the country.
Many volunteer events that occurred in Haiti were instituted for the reconstruction of buildings and homes.
The reconstruction was helpful in a sense to provide shelter once again, but many children remain without educational materials.
“Shelters are currently being built; however, students of every age from pre-school to even high school level do not have basic educational resources that surround [Americans] on an everyday basis,” Dodson said.
In hopes of providing at least a small amount of aid to the children of Haiti, NLA will be hosting a backpack drive for the month of April.
The fundraiser for which NLA is raising money is titled “Gods Planet for Haiti.” The drive will primarily take place within local churches in the community, but there will also be a donation bin located in Isaac’s and Pearsons the last week of April.
During the last week of April several events to help with the fundraiser will be taking place.
On April 24, a guest speaker from “Gods Planet for Haiti” will provide a presentation. Additionally, a Haitian art show will be held in the Clayton Center for the Arts during the final week of April.
The main focus of the event is to collect as many backpacks as possible to send for the children of Haiti. NLA asks for as much participation from the MC student body as possible.
If students are not able to contribute backpacks, NLA will also be collecting various other school supplies such as pencils, crayons and markers.
Along with school supply collections, NLA will also be selling wristbands in order to use to proceeds to help the aid the fundraiser.
The NLA appreciates any contributions and welcomes all students and faculty to the events that will be hosted the last week of April.
Students interested in finding out more about upcoming speakers and events that NLA will be hosting encouraged to contact Lane Dodson at [email protected].