College-wide Haiti collection drive

The Scene: The Campus Voice takes to the streets to capture students and events around campus

By: Tony Harrison

Posted: 2/23/10

Feb. 5th was a special day for the community and the college. A day where everyone came together to help donate food, clothing, and other things to the Haiti Relief Project and the Florida State College at Jacksonville student government committee members along with a few other volunteers were there to assist.

Students from FSCJ brought in necessities such as: food, water, and other products to assist Earnest Painter Sr., director and founder of the charity organization, in his mission from God to help the people of Haiti.

Painter created Mission Harvest International Charity Foundation fourteen years ago along with his wife. Painter and the Mission Harvest International Charity Foundation were on the job just seconds after hearing about the earthquake.

"I am a humble, God-fearing, and proud native of Jacksonville, and I appreciate all the help we have gotten from this city and the students of FSCJ," said Painter. "The community jelled together after hearing about the disaster and the deaths in Haiti and made this cohesive effort a successful one."

Mission Harvest has had more than 96 people a day, and has more than 26 drop areas throughout the northeast Florida area. The most critical needs are flatbeds and chassis. This will allow them to continue to ship and haul the donations on to Haiti.

Along with monetary donations they are also in need of canned meat, rice, and beans. Donations can be dropped off at any 26 locations in the northeast Florida area, or at any FSCJ campus location area.

"We are blessed and overwhelmed by the help us receiving from the community and we thank you," said Painter.