WAYNESBURG - Nearly a month after the devastating earthquake in Haiti that claimed the lives of at least 150,000 people, the ongoing and nonstop efforts to provide aid to the country have reached global proportions.

Numerous organizations and agencies from all around the world have been tirelessly devoting their time and resources to provide a wide array of relief and supplies following the Jan. 12 tragedy, when a massive earthquake struck Haiti and devastated the capital city Port-au-Prince, killing more than 150,000 people and leaving many more homeless.

The global-wide, larger-scale commitment to help those affected by the catastrophe has also been shown by countless individuals living in smaller communities who are holding fundraising initiatives of their own. And though their efforts may technically not be on the same massive level as those coordinated by groups such as the American Red Cross, UNICEF or Salvation Army, their initiatives are just as important to the many that are in dire need of help.

Even in Greene County, a number of fund drives are being held in area schools and through various local organizations. The Messenger has received information about several of the recent fundraising initiatives in all of the school districts across the county.

At Waynesburg Central Elementary School, students and their families recently filled 30 five-gallon buckets with donated supplies that will help victims of the Haiti earthquake.

The buckets, which are filled with hygiene products such as baby wipes, non-liquid soaps, wash cloths, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs and brushes, are being given to Brother's Brother Foundation in Pittsburgh, an organization that will send the buckets to Haiti. The buckets were picked up on Feb. 1.

WCES Principal Deborah Iams said the fundraising idea began after the school was contacted by Lisa Schwarz, a parent of former WCES students who continues to volunteer her time to help the school, and Beth Goodwin, a former Central Greene teacher, about helping with the Haiti disaster.

"They both knew about the Brother's Brother Foundation and contacted us about coming up with an initiative that could help Haiti," Iams said. "So they bought and designed the buckets and we placed five of them in each wing at the school, and we encouraged the students and their families to come in and fill them with supplies.

"It was a wonderful idea, and I can't help but feel touched by the generosity of our students, their families and everyone else who was involved with this project," she added.

Mapletown High School students engaged in a friendly battle called "Penny Wars" during the week of Jan. 25-29, in which junior high students in grades seven through nine competed against high school students in grades 10 through 12 to see who could raise the most amount of pennies.

The fund drive was coordinated through the school's student council and its SADD (Students Against Dangerous Decisions) chapter. Kristin Jakiel, a teacher at the school and sponsor for both clubs, said the students wanted to hold an event that would help those affected by the tragedy.

"The students wanted to do something for them, something that would be fun, and would get the students excited about helping out for a worthy cause," Jakiel said. "It was truly a rewarding experience for them and for the school."

The "Penny Wars" raised a total of $350.60, which will be donated to the Haitian Emergency Relief Fund.

Meanwhile, the Jefferson-Morgan Elementary Student Council collected a total of $447.20 in donations during the school's "Hats for Haiti" campaign, which was held recently to help the victims of the earthquake.

During the campaign, students in the school's pre-K through sixth grade classes were encouraged to purchase tickets that permitted them to wear hats during a school day.

At Carmichaels Area High School, members of the student council recently held their "Hat Day for Haiti" program, where students and faculty were allowed to wear hats during a school day if they donated at least $1.

The event, which was coordinated by teacher and student council sponsor Sheila Martin, raised a total of $217.34 for the fundraising initiative.

And at the West Greene Middle-Senior School, students will be helping Haiti by participating in a unique fund drive that will be part of the annual "Mr. West Greene" pageant, a show where male students compete for the title of Mr. West Greene.

The pageant, which will be held on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. in the middle-senior high auditorium, will consist of dance routines, skits, a tuxedo fashion show and an on-stage question-and-answer session.

The theme for this year's show will be "A Tribute to Michael Jackson." Admission is $5 and part of the proceeds will be donated for the rebuilding of Haiti.

Local fundraising initiatives are also being offered at the collegiate level. At Waynesburg University, students, faculty and administration are working together to aid ongoing relief work.

The university recently announced that it is planning a campus-wide collection, an upcoming benefit concert and a celebration of hope fundraiser to offer continued support.

The benefit concert, titled "Hope for Haiti," will be held in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. A minimum donation of $3 is suggested.

The Colin Reger Band, based in Philippi, W.Va., will offer uplifting Christian songs and will feature the singing and songwriting talents of Colin Reger.

The public is cordially invited to attend. Proceeds will benefit the Greater Works Home for Girls and the family of Port-au-Prince native, Jean Kenson Beaubrun, a junior accounting major at Waynesburg University.

Beaubrun was significantly affected by the earthquake as his family and friends lived out the traumatic experience. Beaubrun waited more than a week to hear of his family's fate.

"I cannot explain how I was during that week," he said. "The more I saw on TV, it was just too much for me. I was doing whatever I could to hear from my family."

After the agonizing anticipation, Beaubrun learned that his family had lived.

"I didn't believe it at first," he said. "When I heard from my nephew, I believed and I felt relief. My family is so precious to me so it wasn't enough just to hear, I needed to hear their voices."

Beaubrun said that he quickly learned the importance of relying on God through difficult times.

"He has been very faithful in my life and through all of this, He knew when to send people to me," he said. "It's a blessing I wasn't there but in some other ways it's tough for me in the way that I can't see my people, my family and my friends. I lost many friends and I would be glad to be there to see their families. I feel sad that I can't be there with them."

A lot of patience and prayer, according to Beaubrun, created the opportunity for him to finally hear the voices of his family and surviving friends.

"They are alive and fighting and that is the most important thing," he said. "My friend shared that his dreams were gone and I told him that he needed to start again. You have to be courageous and pray to God to give you strength because He is the only one that knows why this happened. It doesn't matter what you see or what you have gone through, you have to keep living."

Upon hearing of the support of his friends and community, Beaubrun was deeply moved.

"I'm appreciative of the efforts of everyone," he said. "Right now, people over there really need help so when everybody comes together to try to help out it's very good. I would encourage anyone who wants to give in some small way to give whatever they can. It doesn't matter how small and it doesn't matter if it's one penny - everything is a help down there."

In addition to the benefit concert, the senior Bonner Scholars will sell Mardi Gras beads during the university's Who's Your Neighbor Week, Sunday, Feb. 14 through Friday, Feb. 19. Proceeds will benefit the relief efforts and the fundraiser will act as a celebration of hope.

The university also announced that its Student Chapter of Habitat for Humanity collected more than $800 for Habitat for Humanity Haiti. Habitat has worked in Haiti for 26 years and will be significantly involved with the long-term rebuilding efforts, university representatives said.

(Additional information for this article provided by Waynesburg University.)