Heal the World: ECU sophomore launches "Pirates For Haiti" campaign on Facebook

With so many in need of help in Haiti, people here in the states are doing what they can to lend a hand. A number of organizations at ECU are raising money and awareness.

Students and faculty at ECU, a university known for sporting purple and gold, were wearing red. The reason is to raise awareness for the situation in Haiti.

While money is tight for many college students, one sophomore here is working to pool every extra penny for the Red Cross.

As class let out on campus Tuesday afternoon, volunteers asked their fellow students to donate a few dollars or some change to help with the relief effort in Haiti.

Victori Bortz was one student who stopped by. She said, "Hundred of thousands of people died. They definitely need the money and I can't personally go there and help."

The money goes to the Red Cross. Sophomore Brandon Hill came up with the idea to organize a donation drive when he was listening to the radio. “I heard the song Heal The World by Michael Jackson come on the radio and that really motivated me to get the campus involved , to get as many people as I can involved."

Hill started Pirates for Haiti as a Facebook group on Friday. It has since turned into a two week campaign to raise at least $5,000 for the American Red Cross.

Those who did stop to give a few dollars received a red ribbon. Many say it's hard not to give what you can when you see how many people are suffering. "To hear about all the deceased bodies lying around; I can't even imagine. But just being without food and water for 5, 6, 7 days...it's just unbelievable,” said Anne Heritage, a faculty member at ECU.

For those who can't spare the change, Hill is asking students to at least wear red to raise awareness to the horrors facing the hundreds of thousands in Haiti.

As part of the Pirates For Haiti campaign the Red Cross will also run a blood drive on campus Wednesday from 10 to 3.

Hill says since the campaign kickoff started today, they've already raised more than $600.

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Noon Report - Heal the World: ECU sophomore launches "Pirates For Haiti" campaign on facebook

 

--- Noon Report ---

Students at East Carolina are lending a hand for those in Haiti.

The group “Pirates for Haiti” is out and about on campus today, raising awareness about the devastation.

There are several ways to help out.

The Dowdy Student Store on campus is one of three places students can stop by to donate money to the Red Cross.

It's part of the "Pirates for Haiti" campaign that started last Friday on Facebook.

Brandon Hill said the images he was seeing on the news inspired him to help make some kind of difference.

The “Pirates for Haiti” campaign will be going on from now through January 31st.

The goal is to raise 5 thousand dollars through various fund raisers over the next 2 weeks.

Tomorrow the Red Cross will be holding a blood drive from 10 to 3.

Tonight at 5:30, students are gathering at the cupola on the mall in the middle of campus for a special prayer vigil.

We'll have more on that event tonight on Eyewitness News 9 at Six.