In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many New York and New Jersey residents who already faced a tough winter now find themselves without the support of agencies they could typically count on for help. Groups already assisting families and children in poverty before the hurricane now struggle to stay afloat themselves. Many of our campus scholarship programs and student communities draw scholars from east coast areas that sustained serious damage.
Through Saturday, Dec. 8, the UW-Madison community is promoting a drive to collect the most needed items: socks, coats, blankets, toiletries, gloves, hats, and non-perishable food items. All sizes are needed, especially those for children. Books, games and toys are also welcome, as families fight to regain a sense of everyday normalcy.
“Disaster relief organizations have such a wide spectrum of tasks at hand that many people who were already in danger of slipping through the cracks are even more at risk,” says Everett Mitchell, UW-Madison’s director of community relations, who spearheaded the drive through connections in northern New Jersey. “These individuals, many of whom lost all the possessions they had, need basics such as food and warm clothing. But as the rest of the world approaches the holiday season — and a cold winter — these individuals also need tangible reminders that people care.”
Donation barrels are available in these locations through Saturday, Dec. 8 (in main lobby areas unless otherwise noted):
- Pres House, 731 State St.
- Armory and Gymnasium (Red Gym), 716 Langdon St.
- Gordon Dining and Event Center, 770 W. Dayton St. (outside Flamingo Run)
- Witte Hall, 615 W. Johnson St.
- Sellery Hall, 821 W. Johnson St.
- Smith Hall, 35 N. Park St.
- Chadbourne Hall, 420 N. Park St.
- Dejope Hall, 640 Elm Dr.
Significant support also comes through the First Wave program, many of whom have personal connections to the New York and New Jersey region. Collection barrels will be available outside First Wave’s performances on Friday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. (Just Bust! in the On Wisconsin Room of the Red Gym) and Saturday, Dec. 8 at 9 p.m. (The Leak with Rafael Casal, in the Memorial Union Rathskeller). http://www.twitter.com/rafaelcasal
Those who wish to donate money may still do so through the Red Cross, including a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999. The Red Cross has raised nearly $170 million to date for Sandy and estimates that it will spend $110 million on the emergency relief through the end of December.
Campus organizations taking part in coordination and collection include ASM, the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives. Fresh Madison Market is also assisting with nonperishable food collection.
More on Rafael Casal
Rafael Casal is an American writer, performance poet, recording artist, educator, playwrite and founding member of The Getback. Come hear the musicall side of Casal.
For anyone who has been following the Bay Area, CA’s own Rafael Casal over nearly the past decade, it is no surprise that he continues to remain one of the prominent and forever-reaching artists to check for. From humble beginnings championing the National Poetry Slam as a teen, featuring on 3 seasons of Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry on HBO, & performing at hundreds of Universities and venues all over the country, Casal declared himself early as a force to be reckoned with.
In recent years he has released 2 full-length music projects THE MONSTER LP and THE BAY BOY MIXTAPE which have been featured on MTV’s The Buried Life and Showtime’s The Real L Word, and spent spent 3 years teaching poetry and theater to undergraduates as Creative Director of the First Wave Arts Scholarship program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. There he oversaw the artistic careers of 60 students, directed 19 stage productions, designed the first 4-year undergraduate Hip Hop Theater diversity scholarship curriculum, and premiered his first 1-act commissioned solo work The Limp.