Student worries about Haitian family
Local residents caught in disaster, campus expresses concern
Rachel Klaus
Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: News
Even an earthquake that happens overseas affects those in the Garden City area.
Nashley Petit-Vel, a freshman at GCCC, was born in Haiti and moved to the United States when he was 12. He came to Garden City last fall to play soccer for the college. He recalls what ran through his head when he heard the news.
"I really couldn't think right," Petit-Vel said. "I have a lot of family there."
All of his family's businesses were destroyed. Two cousins suffered head injuries and one family member who is still missing.
"Now my uncles and aunts and their kids are on the streets, they don't really have anywhere to stay," Petit-Vel said. "It's sunny, it's terrible, it's dusty, doctors don't have anything to do surgery with."
He said he wants to go to Haiti this summer and visit. His parents are trying to bring family to America. He said Haiti needs more than just a few million dollars.
"Most people think that the earthquake hit just that one capital because of the Palace that went down," Petit-Vel said. "But really four or five more major cities [were affected]." The rebuilding of Haiti will take longer than a few weeks.
"It will take a good 15 to 25 years to rebuild," Petit-Vel said. "They need basic stuff such as clothes, food, water, things like that."
Even for those students who do not have a direct connection to Haiti, the news was devastating. Nathan Maas, freshman, said he couldn't believe the news when he heard about the earthquake.
"I really didn't know what to think. It was crazy," Maas said. He said he has not donated to a relief fund yet. "I don't know where to donate to. I want to make sure my money gets there."
Terry and Martha Major, The Reverend and Pastor of the Pierceville Federate Church, went to Haiti on a Mission trip. They left Jan. 5 to host a bible conference for 53 churches in the area. They were in Haiti at the time of the Earthquake. They left the Monday following the earthquake. The Majors said they left because they felt they did all they could.
Nashley Petit-Vel, a freshman at GCCC, was born in Haiti and moved to the United States when he was 12. He came to Garden City last fall to play soccer for the college. He recalls what ran through his head when he heard the news.
"I really couldn't think right," Petit-Vel said. "I have a lot of family there."
All of his family's businesses were destroyed. Two cousins suffered head injuries and one family member who is still missing.
"Now my uncles and aunts and their kids are on the streets, they don't really have anywhere to stay," Petit-Vel said. "It's sunny, it's terrible, it's dusty, doctors don't have anything to do surgery with."
He said he wants to go to Haiti this summer and visit. His parents are trying to bring family to America. He said Haiti needs more than just a few million dollars.
"Most people think that the earthquake hit just that one capital because of the Palace that went down," Petit-Vel said. "But really four or five more major cities [were affected]." The rebuilding of Haiti will take longer than a few weeks.
"It will take a good 15 to 25 years to rebuild," Petit-Vel said. "They need basic stuff such as clothes, food, water, things like that."
Even for those students who do not have a direct connection to Haiti, the news was devastating. Nathan Maas, freshman, said he couldn't believe the news when he heard about the earthquake.
"I really didn't know what to think. It was crazy," Maas said. He said he has not donated to a relief fund yet. "I don't know where to donate to. I want to make sure my money gets there."
Terry and Martha Major, The Reverend and Pastor of the Pierceville Federate Church, went to Haiti on a Mission trip. They left Jan. 5 to host a bible conference for 53 churches in the area. They were in Haiti at the time of the Earthquake. They left the Monday following the earthquake. The Majors said they left because they felt they did all they could.