Penn students have responded to the crisis in Haiti in creative and useful ways, ranging from a performing arts benefit to campus-wide food and medicine drives.

Immediately following the disaster, students held a somber candlelight vigil in support of the earthquake victims, as well as University students with friends and family in Haiti. Following the vigil, students pulled together a benefit concert, Aidé Ayiti (Help Haiti), that raised more than $3,000 in relief funds. Another student-planned fundraising event featured the Penn spoken word performance group, Excelano, and poet Elizabeth Alexander, a Penn alumna who recited the poem “Praise Song for the Day” at President Obama’s inaugural.

Additionally, a coalition of student groups has placed collection boxes in buildings across campus to gather donations of medical supplies, bottled water and canned food that will be shipped to Haiti. And in addition to holding fundraising events, students at the Law School are considering a service trip to Haiti later in the year to provide legal expertise for the nation’s long-range recovery.

A special website has been set up to provide the entire Penn community with information about relief efforts and what individuals can do to help. Click here to read more.