Two resident assistants in the Pentagon and Broussard community responded to the disaster in Japan on the day of the tragedy.
Mary Condo, animal, dairy and poultry science junior, and Grace Weber, public relations junior, began “Lend a Hand to Japan” to collect donations from residents to send to the Red Cross.
Condo said she knew she needed to do something to help the morning she saw footage of the devastating earthquake.
Condo, Weber and other resident assistants created fliers and banners and distributed decorated cups to residents. Residents were asked to put any change or donations in the cups.
As of Monday, the last day to donate, the collection totaled $522.06, Condo said.
Condo said she was surprised by the amount collected.
“Our goal was set at $300, which I thought was ambitious,” Condo said. “Within four days we reached $300.”
Condo and Weber’s concept was inspired by last year’s “Change for Haiti” collection, which worked the same way.
Weber came up with “Change for Haiti” and implemented it within the Pentagon and Broussard community, but later expanded to include all of Residential Life.
Condo said their quick reaction to the crisis in Japan “helped bring people to the cause.”
“We received a lot of donations in the first four days,” Condo said.
Ben Dewberry, residence life coordinator of Broussard and Pentagon Halls, said there are 570 residents in the community.
Dewberry was thrilled by the student support.
“[They] took the initiative to get it started, and I was surprised that people jumped on board,” Dewberry said.
Dewberry said students wanted to respond to the disaster.
“There were people that needed help, and we needed to
respond,” Dewberry said.
Rafe Proctor, construction management freshman and resident of the Pentagon and Broussard community, said he felt moved to help the Japanese people.
“I would just like to help any way I can,” Proctor said.
 
—-
Contact Claire Caillier at [email protected]