Relief goes a long way

By Jeanine Cardullo, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, November 11, 1998

With estimations of Hurricane Mitch's destruction to Central America mounting on a daily basis, Cal State Long Beach's dance department did not hesitate to help last Friday.

Alaine Haubert, CSULB professor of ballet, was the originating force behind a relief effort that quickly grew to encompass support from all corners of campus.

Aided by Debbie Swiderski, administrative coordinator, and Lynn Burch, secretary, both of the dance department, Haubert organized fliers to be distributed throughout CSULB to request donations.

"We felt that we should all contribute to the needy, and that we should get the whole campus involved, not just the dance department. It went absolutely wonderfully," Burch said.

The dance department gathered donations of bottled water, canned goods, blankets, diapers, clothes and money.

Volunteers boxed goods Saturday morning in preparation for shipment to Nicaragua and Honduras, where the current death toll is estimated to be more than 9,000. A truck full of donations departed CSULB Saturday afternoon.

Those wishing to send money are urged to write checks payable to: Consulate General of Nicaragua-Mitch Hurricane Relief and mail to: Silvio Mendez, Consulate General, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 410, Los Angeles, CA 90010.