Omega Psi Phi, a fraternity at Auburn, is encouraging students, professors and the Auburn - Opelika community to support victims of the Haitian earthquake by making donations to assist in the relief efforts.
The fraternity developed, and is in the process of executing, a plan that could change the lives of victims in Haiti.
Skylar Forney, senior in French international business trade and an active member of Omega Psi Phi, organized the operation.
"We have gone to 15 local businesses to try and get donations and ask if they can support our cause for the survivors in Haiti," Forney said, "and we have about 20 more businesses to go."
The 17 active brothers of Omega Psi Phi are collecting money and nonperishables as well as securing local business donations for an event they are conducting, Jan. 29.
The event, which will be in the Auburn University Student Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is anticipated to be a huge success.
"We're looking for a pretty good turn out as far as the students and faculty members go," Forney said. "As far as the companies that donate, a few representatives from each company will be attending."
Omega Psi Phi will be accepting non-perishable food items and monetary donations at the event which they will relay to the Red Cross for delivery to Haiti.
The event will also include entertainment to keep students interested.
Omega Psi Phi is putting on a live step show for students along with providing pizza for $1 per slice.
The president of the fraternity, Kris Dumas, senior in exercise science, expressed how fortunate people in America are to not have been affected by this disaster.
"We want to spread the word about how serious this disaster is," Dumas said. "We are lucky it did not happen to us. This is more of a reason for us to help out our neighbors."
Students all across campus are planning on attending the event and supporting the fraternity's efforts to aid in the Haiti Relief Fund.
Rachel Nirschl, senior in health promotion, said she plans on attending the event and donating non-perishable food.
"This fraternity is working for a very good cause," Nirschl said. "I am more than willing to donate to help the survivors in Haiti."
Omega Psi Phi has already received donations from Price's Barbeque, Papa Johns and Next Level Barber Shop and they presume more companies will donate to the cause by Friday.
Banana Graphics, a local business, is creating T-shirts that will be available at the Friday event for $10.
All proceeds from the T-shirts will go to the Haiti Relief Fund.
Members of the Omega Psi Phi said they encourage students to support the victims of the Haitian earthquake by donating or attending the event.
Forney said they are hoping to "tremendously change Haitian lives."
For more information on the event or to donate any nonperishable items, students can e-mail Skylar Forney at skylarforney@ hotmail.com.
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