The College of Health and Human Performance is organizing a donation drive of clothes, food and basic necessities for the people of Haiti, devastated by four hurricanes this summer.

The HHP Ambassadors are collecting clothes, dry food, canned goods, shoes, soap, laundry detergent and water purification tablets to send to Haiti. Donations can be dropped off at the Florida Gym Room 242 before Oct. 16, 2008.

“HHP was approached by a Partners In Health volunteer about collecting much- needed items for Haiti,” said Michele Dye, director of communications at HHP. “The hurricanes caused severe damage, leaving many Haitians homeless and without basic necessities. Our HHP Ambassadors wanted to help Haiti recover from these devastating storms.”

All donations go directly to Partners In Health, an organization founded by Dr. Paul Farmer of Harvard University.  A book about Farmer, “Mountains Beyond Mountains,” was selected as the UF Common Reading Program book in 2007-08.

Haiti is often referred to as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Storms Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike all hit Haiti in a period from mid-August to mid-September.

Dean Steve Dorman is encouraging HHP students to get involved. The HHP student organization that collects the most items for Haiti will win an ice cream social provided by Dorman.

For more information, contact hurricane relief co-chairs Tasmeer Hassan (mhgurl@ufl.edu) and Francesca Francois (fra9422@ufl.edu), or Michele Dye, HHP Ambassadors adviser.

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