[Student Reporters] Irvine Student Takes Big Steps to Aid Haiti

Stacey Lee / 11th Woodbridge High School

On Friday February 12 Shibani Dhume president of the Project: Haiti club at Woodbridge High School in Irvine called her first meeting to order lighting the fire of assistance for earthquake-shattered Haiti. Junior Dhume created the club after seeing pictures of the damage in Time magazine and it has gathered almost two hundred supporters at the school in two week's time. "I realized that there were so many other people out there who had bigger problems than me" she said. "I felt like I needed to do something to help them."

With her new club Dhume and members have organized a shoe drive to provide Haitians with the necessity of safe clean feet amidst the rubble of their devastated nation. Project: Haiti members will hold a school-wide weeklong drive to collect mildly used shoes starting Monday February 23rd to March 5th.

"Our ultimate goal is to give it our best shot and do everything possible to help the people of Haiti" continued Dhume. "I want to make a difference. We want to make a difference."

Project: Haiti is working with the nonprofit organization of Soles4Souls for their drive. Soles4Souls who distributes a pair of shoes to a person in need every 9 seconds will provide the collection bins which will be stationed in the on-campus cafeteria quad. "I think it is great that students are actually taking time to help others" said science teacher and Project: Haiti advisor Bruno Dworzak.

After the shoe drive the club plans on holding a T-shirt sale with brands like Stussy Billabong and Hurley at school sporting events as well as setting up after school bake sales. "I hope the shoes will put smiles on the Haitians' faces despite the tragedy they experienced" said junior and Project: Haiti vice president Jamie Castelar. "We will start with shoes and keep helping them as much as possible. This is only the beginning."

For more information on Woodbridge High School's Project: Haiti club contact [email protected]. For more information on how to start a shoe drive at a school like Shibani and her club visit http://www.soles4souls.org.