USU Students Organize Fundraiser for Dominican Republic Storm Refugees

The Utah State University Dominican Student Association, in conjunction with USU Dining Services, will host a fundraiser dinner Friday, Nov. 30, to raise funds to help with relief efforts following Storm Noel that caused significant damage in the Dominican Republic.

USU Executive Chef Don Donaldson will prepare an authentic Dominican menu for the event. Donaldson will be assisted in the kitchen by students from the DSA.

 

Tickets for the event are available at any Dining Services location on campus and cost $5.

 

Donation collection boxes have been set up at the Marketplace and Junction Dining Halls on campus to collect supplies for relief efforts. Needed items include water purification tablets, soap, detergent, clothes, shoes, diapers and over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin and antihistamines.

 

“Although I have some experience with Caribbean cooking, having the students in the kitchen with me will be a big help in making this a very authentic Dominican meal,” Donaldson said.

 

USU students from the Dominican Republic were shocked at the heart-breaking stories coming from their country after the heavy rains and wind damage from Storm Noel caused significant flooding and other damage. Noel, which later turned into a hurricane, killed at least 85 people and displaced 70,000 residents in the Dominican Republic when it struck on Oct. 28.

 

USU has close ties to the Dominican Republic. There are more than 140 Dominican students attending Utah State.  In response to the tragedy, Jose Luis Camilo, president of the Dominican Student Association, has been spending a lot of time with members of the group discussing events in their home country.

 

“We feel helpless watching the images and stories on the news,” he said. “The damages are a huge step backward for our country. The pictures remind me of Hurricane Katrina.”

 

But Camilo is optimistic. “My country is a proud one,” he said. “I’m sure we can put things back together, but it’s frustrating not being able to be there to help.” 

 

All funds raised by this event will go to provide relief efforts. “We have a number of student employees and customers who are from the Dominican Republic,” said Alan Anderson, director of Dining Services. “When the Dominican Student Association asked about helping with a fund raiser, we felt it was the least we could do.”

 

Following the dinner at the Junction Dining Hall, students from the DSA will provide entertainment. Members of the student group will perform music, and there will also be dancing.

 

“This event will be a lot of fun,” Camilo said. “It will be a great help for the Domincan students to have a good time while helping out their friends and family back home.”

 

USU Dining Services will donate the food and provide a venue for this event.