Everyone knows what it’s like to feel afraid, to feel devastated. Some people know what it’s like to lose a loved one. But few people know what it’s like to watch everything they’ve ever known crumble beneath them.

However, most people never experience such grand scale devastation. They can only imagine. On January 12, 2010, this changed for the citizens of Haiti.

Throughout the years, we’ve watched Haiti and other countries throughout the world suffer from political insecurity, poverty, and natural disaster. People tend to set themselves apart from these realities. People turn away based on the conception that they can’t make a difference.

But when a human cries out for help, naturally, it’s hard to look away. On a Tuesday like any other, Port-au-Prince was shaken to ruins. Over 100,000 people died. The equally important part: some people are still alive, and they need help.

JC can help. We can help. It is not our responsibility to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, but as a Catholic school and as people, we should value our ability to reach out to those in need.

There are people in this world strong enough to watch their lives collapse and get up and build a camp for their families. These people are worth helping. They aren’t a lost cause or bad people. These people were just like us, until they suffered an earthquake.

The Red Cross has taken the effort to start a foundation and work one-on-one with the people in Haiti. All it takes is another click of your mouse to donate to their cause.

JC has taken the effort to team up with St. Margaret’s and raise money for the Catholic Relief for the Haitians.  At the January 26 men’s basketball game against Cardinal Gibbons, a donation to Catholic Relief Services replaced an admission fee.

If that’s not possible, students could be sure to sell their raffle tickets this year. After all, JC is donating 20 percent of the proceeds.

All the work has been done for us. Helping the Haitians is just a donation away. So if anyone can manage to part with their Starbucks one morning, their five dollars won’t be wasted.

The Patriot Staff can be reached for comment at [email protected]