Anna Moore/Collegian
Junior Zhenya Lundgren started her own charity collecting toys for the children victims of the Tsunami.
Many lives were washed away and destroyed on Dec. 27. The Tsunami claimed thousands of people, and swept away the hope of many others. Yet beneath the damages of the Tsunami runs a current of charity, even here on campus.
Junior Zhenya Lundgren, like many others, is starting a charity to help the victims of the Tsunami. She said that when dealing with a crisis like this there are so many needs to meet other than the physical.
A little over a week ago, Lundgren announced at her Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority meeting that she was starting a fund collecting toys for the children of the Tsunami.
Lundgren said her mom was watching TV over break and found a program that was talking about kids going through the ruins of the Tsunami looking for their lost toys.
"The reporter remarked that the children would cling to a toy desperately and how that was desperate for their survival ... it was a particularly poignant news story," Deb Lundgren said.
According to the Associated Press, over half the people killed in Indonesia were children, and the remaining ones have lost multiple family members.
"I have so many toys that are dear to me, but at the same time what am I going to do with them?" Zhenya said. "So I started thinking, I'm in a sorority, if each girl could part with one toy, that is 80 toys right there."
"There is no name for the charity, just toys for orphans, something to remind them of their home and parents," she said.
The toys will be sent directly to the orphanages, due to their government's tax on charity goods. This will prevent the tax and will be given to non-profit organizations.
Stephanie Riebe and Lauren Wilson, both juniors, have also addressed the needs of children, by raising money for the children through Kid Connection.
Kid Connection is associated with the GOAL Program, and reaches out to the children of the community, in an effort teach kids to help other kids in need.
"Once a month we put on an event for kids in the community," Riebe said.
"There are about 100 kids, and for every event they bring one dollar for a charity. Now they will be decorating cans and over the month challenged in putting their dollar and collected money in the cans for the children [of the Tsunami]."
"The reason is for kids to help kids," Wilson said. "Sometimes they hear people talking about it, but now they will learn about the Tsunami, and will also get a chance to help."
"We want kids to be aware about the needs of children around the world," Riebe said.
The Pi Beta Phi sorority is offering another charity opportunity with their annual "Cow Maneuver."
Monday, they voted to send money from the fundraiser to Tsunami victims.
With the "Cow Maneuver," plots will be sold outside the Curtiss Memorial Dining Hall Feb. 21-25. If the cow "maneuvers" on your plot you win a prize, and most of the raffle money is sent to the victims.
"It was clear that even a month after the disaster people are still concerned about it and that it is still important," Pi Beta Phi Philanthropy Organizer Tracy Hacke said.
"The funds usually go to national organizations, but we decided on the Tsunami by vote," Hacke said. "We decided on World Vision, an organization that is already over there helping out."
Hacke also said that it would be great for people to consider where the money is going. It is important to make a personal effort, and to put "Cow Maneuver" to good use.
These three charities give the entire student body an opportunity to donate simple gifts, time and money - very little requests for the huge impact they will have on the Tsunami victims.