With the recent disaster in Japan and the numerous areas of unrest in the world, it’s easy to forget about people who still need help even though they’re not in the headlines. Plymouth senior Grant Reed and the student organization Ending Genocide Around the World (EGAW) felt that Haiti had started to fall into the latter group. That is why they decided to create Hope for Haiti, a concert to both raise money and give people a reminder that the people of Haiti still need help.
The idea for the event sprung from Reed: “[He] Came to me and was looking for an organization that he could go through to really get the event pumped up and everything,” said Plymouth sophomore and president of EGAW Zach Goldenberg.
“I’ve been wanting to do this since last spring, but couldn’t get it put together then,” said Reed. “This year, because Haiti is really still in the condition that it is, I just really wanted people to be aware because it has kind of faded out of the spotlight.”
Realizing that one college student by himself couldn’t do as much as a collective community, Reed wanted to create something that could utilize the resources he had in front of him: “I wanted to give myself, but there was only so much I could contribute to the cause. But I had the time and there were the facilities here at school and the people willing to donate their time to put music down. I didn’t have the money, but I had the time to put into it”.
The concert, which took place in the HUB Hage Room, featured four bands and DJ’s: Yes I Did, Big Love Monster, Barefoot Truth and DJ Pinecone. The bands all also seemed to be very much into helping out the people of Haiti.
“It’s hard for anybody here to wrap their heads around what’s going on,” said Barefoot Truth Guitarist Jay Driscoll, after his bands high energy acoustic performance. “You know whats happening but you don’t see the reality of it until you hear first hand stories. [The concert] is something we’re really happy to be a part of and we feel it’s a way to give back, doing what we do.”
Plymouth Senior Nate Weaver from Big Love Monster echoed Driscoll’s sentiments: “We played a Haiti benefit last year and we always feel it’s good to help out and do our part,” he said.
The crowd seemed to enjoy the show and also be into the cause. There was a five-dollar minimum donation at the door, but many were going above and putting more than the required amount. All in all, the event had over 150 guests and made over $800.
With the money made and the turnout what it was Reed and Goldenberg just hope they can help out the situation, even if it just be from one College Campus: “We just want people to know that Haiti is still really in need and they need this money and they need help rebuilding,” said Goldenberg. Reed continues “The vision I’ve had is to see people get back into homes and get out of the condition that they’re in”. While the issue is far from being over Reed hopes that this little bit of charity will help somebody: “Hopefully this can really make a difference in some peoples lives in Haiti”.