Nebraska Wesleyan University junior Jamie Krahn had a seven-hour ride home from a recent university service trip that gave her plenty of time to think about an issue weighing heavy on her mind: how can NWU help Haiti’s earthquake victims?

 “I’ve heard several students say they wish they could go there and help,” said Krahn. “But we know that’s not realistic. It’s just too dangerous.”

By the time she arrived home, Krahn had a plan: a medical supply drive.

“Supplies are needed now and they are going to be needed months from now,” said Krahn.

Krahn worked with University Minister Pauletta Lehn to organize a health kit assembly, scheduled for noon on Sunday, February 7 at First United Methodist Church, located just west of campus. Faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to assemble health kits that will include towels, toothbrushes, bandages and soap.  See more information on the health kit assembly.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief will help distribute the supplies to Haiti.

“We know that 100 percent of donations and all supplies will go to Haiti and that’s something tangible for students. They know where the supplies are going,” said Lehn.

And the support for Haiti will not stop with a health kit assembly.

Krahn, a biology major from Omaha who hopes to one day become a physician’s assistant, is launching a medical supply drive on Wednesday, January 27. She plans to set up collection bins in Great Hall of the Smith-Curtis Administration Building and in University Ministries located in Old Main to collect donations of hand sanitizer, gauze, aspirin, baby bottles and other personal care items. See more information about the medical supply drive.

She has no doubt that the campus community will respond.

“Students may not be able to afford to send money to Haiti but they can buy a box of Band-aids,” she said.

Once the supplies have been collected, they will be shipped to Project C.U.R.E. in Denver, Colo., the world’s largest distributor of medical supplies. It’s an organization that NWU students are familiar with. Last year, a group of NWU students collected medical supplies from Nebraska hospitals and delivered them to Project C.U.R.E. They also spent several days volunteering at the warehouse.

The supply drive will continue through February 12.

“It’s an easy way for everyone to get involved,” said Krahn. “We need to do our part as a campus to help the earthquake victims.”

Collect and Drop Off Health Kit Items and Attend Health Kit Party

Any contributions will be part of a much larger effort for collection and distribution of disaster relief necessities in Haiti through United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Making a contribution is another option - 100% of gifts made through UMCOR will go to support direct relief and development efforts due to emergencies in Haiti.

The Health Kit Party will be for collecting and assembling kits before they move on to a distribution center for Haiti relief. The Health Kit Party will be held Feb. 7th at noon at First United Methodist Church, 50th & St. Paul Avenue.

UMCOR requests that the following NEW items be placed in a sealed one-gallon plastic bag:

• 1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”). No kitchen towels.
• 1 washcloth
• 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
• 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
• 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
• 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)
• 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
• $1.00 to purchase toothpaste (NOTE: Toothpaste is purchased in bulk to be added to health kits to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)
• $1.00 per kit for delivery costs (Cash can be dropped off to the University Ministries office or make checks payable to Nebraska Conference UMC.)

Project C.U.R.E. Medical Supply Drive Information

Collection days are from January 27th - February 12th and drop offs are located in Great Hall in Smith-Curtis Classroom/Administration Building and in University Ministries, first floor of Old Main. Contact student organizer jkrahn [at] nebrwesleyan.edu (Jamie Krahn) with questions. To learn about Project C.U.R.E. and how they are helping in Haiti, visit their website.

List of first aid and hygiene supplies needed:

• Disinfectants / antibacterial solutions (peroxide)
• Hand sanitizer
• Masks
• Sterile gloves
• Bandages
• Wraps/rolled bandages
• Gauze and dressings
• Tape
• Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
• Analgesics (Tylenol, aspirin, Advil)
• Splints
• Diapers
• Baby bottles
• Baby formula
• Infant rehydration (Pedialyte)
• Personal care items
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Adhesive bandages (Band-Aids)
• Water purification tablets
• Crutches