Written by Sarah J Kyle
In an effort to provide hope and comfort to the people of Haiti, the Harding University student body is implementing a project called “Tents and Tarps.”
As a result of the January 12, 2010 earthquake, many people in Port-au-Prince are left either without a home or with a fear that inevitable aftershocks will take their homes away. Because of this damage and fear, a large portion of Port-au-Prince’s population now lives in “tent cities” that are beginning to grow in public parks, soccer fields and anywhere there is room.
However, according to a survey trip done by professor Dr. Mark Elrod and freelance photojournalist Phil Holsinger, these “tent cities” are often made up of nothing more than sticks, ropes and cloth sheets.
After being made aware of the need for shelter, particularly with the coming rains, Harding Student Association President Bryan Clifton and others drafted the idea for “Tents and Tarps.”
“Our objective at Harding is to have a tent and tarp sent to Haiti for each member of the Harding undergraduate student body,” Clifton said.
The Arkansas University, which is working with other universities to raise the funds to purchase the tents, has a goal of providing at least 4,500 tents to the people of Port-au-Prince.
“One tent will provide shelter for one Haitian family,” Clifton said. “Many times, that includes up to 20 people.”
The students are collecting all money, as well as accepting donated tents, to send shelter to Port-au-Prince by February 1, 2010. Harding is working with numerous organizations and companies in order to get the best prices for tents and shipping.
For more information, contact Bryan Clifton. To donate money to “Tents and Tarps,” visitwww.harding.eduorwww.tentsandtarps.org.
