Several organizations on campus have joined together to help with the relief efforts in regions hit by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

The Kappa Alphas, Spanish Club, International Club, History Club and others have decided to raise money together to give to the Red Cross.

The International Club organized the fund-raiser with donation boxes campus spread across the campus.

Rahila Khan, senior physics major and president of the International Club, said the idea came to the members before school began.

“Everybody has their own idea to raise money,” she said.

She said that by having all the campus organizations working together, the goal is to get one dollar from every student.

“If we all do a little, we can do a lot,” Khan said.

Scott Tarnowieky, assistant professor of history, is helping with the History Club’s booth.

“It’s a really good fund,” he said.

The club gave out candy in Webster Hall starting Jan. 17 and will continue until 2 p.m. Friday.

“It shows how much people really do care,” Tarnowieky said.

With the efforts on campus, the Campus Activities Board is doing its part to help out.

CAB will help collect and organize the money as it comes in, but will also have its own fund-raiser in March.

Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 2, CAB will sponsor a dollar-lunch day.

Students will be able to purchase a burger, fries and soda for a dollar.

“It’s great,” said Julie Blackford, director of student activities.

“It’s a win-win situation.”

She said the fund would not be too late because by then other funds will have been depleted, and monies will need to be refreshed.

“I’m really proud of our students for pulling together,” Blackford said.

She said the efforts of campus organizations show students are

looking outside of Joplin.

“It shows a lot of character,” Blackford said.

Other organizations, such as the Kappa Alphas, are not just taking money.

The KA’s are asking for supplies such as mosquito repellents and lotions.

Nick VanDyke, senior history major and KA member, said his organization would like to help out as much as possible to keep the spread of malaria from occurring.

“We’re doing everything we can to prevent this terrible disease,” he said.

The organizations will be taking donations through Friday, but students may donate to the funds during the next few weeks as other clubs join the pledge.

The official last date for donations is Feb. 13, but students can donate past this date if there is a need.

Students may also give directly to the Red Cross by calling 800-HELP-NOW.

Though most students on campus do not have a direct connection to the areas hit by the tsunami, one student was in the area at the time of the disaster.

Amber Huser, junior international business and Spanish major, was in Thailand on Dec. 26.

She was not near the tsunami, but she had been near there earlier that week. She said she was in shock when she first heard about the disaster.

“I was just there and could have very easily still been there,” she said.

She called her friends who would have been there, but she said she was lucky not to have any friends hurt in the area.

She also said it was difficult to help while she is there because the workers take up space where displaced people could live. If the workers cannot provide much help, it is more efficient to have the space than a worker.

Huser said the necessities needed are now expensive and the people who can work are doing the best they can to keep resources up.

“What they do need are resources to provide people with basic sanitary needs because although it was bad for those who died in the Tsunami it may be worse for those who lived, those who now have to face the natural enemy of disease,” she said.