Tsunami Relief Project to hit mark

By By Eric Lund

Daily Staff Writer

Although not all donations had been counted as of Friday, members of the Tsunami Relief Project believe they will meet their fundraising goal.

Alison Lima, leader of the Tsunami Relief Project, said that, with most of the donations counted, the total amount raised was $4,200. She expected to exceed the project’s goal of $5,000 as the donations keep coming in.

She said donations will be taken until Tuesday, after which all money will be given to the American Red Cross.

Lima, senior in biology, said another $500 was expected from the Inter-residence Hall Association, and several donation boxes in residence halls had not been collected and added to the total.

“We’re very, very close to $5,000, which is what our goal was,” she said. “We’re hoping that the money that will come in will put us over $5,000.”

Lima said after Tuesday the donations will be sent to the American Red Cross 2695-Tsunami/Earthquake Emergency Response 2004 Fund.

“All the money that’s collected is used for the victims and for relief efforts,” she said.

Nancy Guthrie, program coordinator for international education services, said a check for the donations will be sent to the American Red Cross by the end of the week.

“What the American Red Cross has requested from us is that we just cut them one check,” Guthrie said. “We’ll just wait until all the funds get deposited in our bank account.”

Lima said the Tsunami Relief Project began collecting money on Jan. 11, and actively collected donations using volunteers placed around campus for four days each of the past two weeks.

“Part of what we wanted to do was get the word out so people would donate to us or to other groups with the same cause,” she said.

Lima said when she began the project, most churches in Ames were already collecting donations.

Peter Cline, president of the ISU Hip Hop Dance Club, said a portion of the proceeds from the club’s hip hop show this semester will be donated.

“The admission tickets are $5, and we’re donating $1 from every ticket to the Red Cross tsunami relief fund,” he said.

More than 500 people are expected to attend, Cline said.

Three performances of the show will be given Saturday, at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in 196 Forker.

Guthrie said the Tsunami Relief Project was started by the Student International Medical Aid Club, which collects medical supplies for international clinics.

Lima is president of the medical aid club.