Haiti relief drive…
-raises healthy sum in aid of cause
SIXTH-formers of the prestigious city private school, School of the Nations and other youths did their bit to help in the relief efforts being organized here in aid of disaster-stricken Haiti by hosting a fund raising car wash yesterday on the school’s grounds.

Director of the educational institution, Dr. Brian Toole, described the public’s response to the project as “great” with over sixty people volunteering their services, among them 20 children from neighbouring Tiger Bay.

When the Guyana Chronicle paid a visit to the New Market Street institution yesterday, the event had already racked up some $300,000 dollars and was still going strong. Customers arriving in a steady stream happily paid the $500 fee, and patiently sat around while their cars were being washed.

One such customer was Mr. Jonathan Joseph, who came to have his flashy red convertible washed. Joseph said he had found out about the venture from a friend, a past student of the school who had learnt of the fundraiser through a networking site on the Internet.

Tejika Chand, one of the sixth-formers who had so far washed seven vehicles all by herself, said that contributing to the effort was an excellent opportunity to give something back to society. “Every little bit helps,” she said.

For Sunita Samaroo, a former student of the School of the Nations, contributing to the venture was personal. Sunita, who is a Guyanese of Haitian extract, was in Haiti just two weeks before the devastating earthquake struck. Speaking about family members still in Haiti, she said: “I can’t help being worried; they say they are okay, but I don’t know. When you sit around, you don’t want to watch the TV, because you might recognise a face you know. My family is alive, thank God! But not everyone is okay.”

Dr O’Toole said that the money realized from the drive would be channeled to Haiti through a direct contact the institution has in the country.

The school had earlier received two donations of $100,000 each from two private individuals towards the venture. Quoting one donor, Dr O’Toole said: “More important than the amount of money we raise was the fact that so many people came together from different backgrounds to show solidarity for Haiti.”