Even though thousands of miles stand between Haiti and Johnson City, to some, this disaster is closer to home. Jorane Thomas, a 23-year-old Spanish major at ETSU, fears the country where she was raised will never be the same. Though she is an American citizen, Thomas was raised by her Haitian grandmother in Haiti because her mother had to work. “I loved growing up in Haiti,” she said. “It is such a beautiful country, but people don’t usually see that because it is poor.”

Thomas, who has a 4-year-old daughter, is afraid she won’t be able to show her little girl the same Haiti that she remembers as a child.

“I do believe that Haiti is going to emerge out of this,” she said. “It’s just the fact that we have lost a whole lot, and the many lives that were lost will impact us forever.”

Thomas’s immediate family members were not injured in the original earthquake last Tuesday, but she has not heard from them since the aftershock yesterday.

Thomas encourages students at ETSU to help out with Haiti relief efforts.

“Even if you don’t think it’s enough, you would be amazed what you can do with just $5 in Haiti,” she said. “I’m asking people to pray because Haiti is in such a desperate situation.”

ETSU responded to the disaster by setting up a Web page. As of now, the page features support resources and information. Eventually, the site will have a list of 15 to 20 organizations that students can choose to support.

“Individually, Jorane felt hopeless and helpless, but she thought that collectively, the university could make an impact,” said Joy Fulkerson, ETSU coordinator for volunteer programs.

“Just seeing how the community is coming together is just amazing,” Thomas said. “And when we come together, we are stronger. We are at our best and we can do something.”

For more information about how you can help, visit www.etsu.edu/response/.

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