Students raise money for earthquake victims

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    By Randall Mah

    Twenty-six students have been raising money the last few months to rebuild homes that were damaged in an earthquake in El Salvador last January.

    The earthquake hit 7.6 on the Richter scale. According to the New York Times, 1.2 million El Salvadorians became homeless because of it. The group of students hosted a benefit concert on August 7, at the Scera shell Theater featuring Colors, the winner of Utah”s Best Bands Award in 2001.

    Aaron Terry, the project head of the student group traveling to El Salvador, received official status, classifying the fundraiser for charitable solicitation. “Our goal is to raise $100,000 to send our group to El Salvador,” said Terry, 23, a senior from Orem, majoring in exercise science.

    The funds raised will cover a donation of $3,000 to the Habitat for Humanity International.

    Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. The donation is required for groups to rebuild homes in association with Habitat for Humanity International. The funds will also provide for airfare, room, board, food and other incidentals for the student group.

    “The funds will also supply the money needed to hire masons to build homes for widows and disabled persons who have the supplies with no ability to build their own home,” Terry said.

    Jacob Reynolds, 21, a junior from Oren, majoring in philsophy, said, “We are grateful for the organizations that are helping us meet our goal,” Reynolds said. The Ashton Family Foundation and The Scera Shell are primary organizations helping the student group, Terry said. “Habitat for Humanity International will provide the training and materials to build homes,” Terry said. “We will be laboring in a town called Juayua, Sonsonate.”

    “In addition to working with Habitat for Humanity International, the student group will also be laboring with the mission president and stake presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Terry said.

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