Area raising money for Haiti relief

Widespread devastation hit Haiti when the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck, destroying lives, homes and leaving so many without anything.

The call for help has reached many people throughout the world and people in Queen’s are doing what they can to raise money for the people of Haiti.

Susan Lane, owner of Lane’s Privateer Inn, with the help of Linda Lane, Phadera Charlton-Huskins, Gene Robinson Dexter and Amy Grant, decided to host a fundraising event at the Inn. “After watching the news,” said Linda Lane, “Everybody in the community wanted to do something.”

The desire to help was strong and in just two days a fundraising event was pulled together that raised a little over $10,000 including the federal government’s matched donation.

There was a silent auction where items were donated from all over town. “It was the best auction that I’ve seen,” said Lane.

Musicians donated their time for the event along with staff members who also donated their tips towards the total dollars raised.

Well over 100 people attended the seven hour long event. “Everyone really felt that they were doing something,” said Lane. “We didn’t need to think hard about it, it was just something that needed to be done.”

She raised a challenge to the general public. “It won’t end there,” she said. “There is so much more that people can do to raise money.”

Students across the county are rising to the challenge and responding to the overwhelming need in Haiti.

South Queen’s Junior High School student’s raised $1,500, which was matched by Principal Leo Campbell and vice president of the school, Terry Medcalfe and matched again by the rest of the school staff.

The other schools in the county are on the same track now in the process of raising money for the Haiti Relief Fund. “Many times it is the students who feel the need to help,” said Campbell. “They have a good awareness of what is going on.”