Students are acting in the local and global community through Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, a group focused on helping misfortunate citizens of the Triangle and the world.
The University chapter of CARE is a branch of a larger non-profit organization based in Atlanta. CARE International is devoted to improving the health and well being of people around the world and fights problems such as AIDS, hunger and general poverty.
At the University, CARE places a larger focus on the local community and gives a large portion of funds raised to CARE International.
Carly Fulton, co-president of CARE, explained this year the group will put its largest emphasis on underprivileged mothers as well as fair-trade products.
The first event CARE will hold is the Fair-Trade Fair Monday, Oct. 17.
“We’ll have a bunch of Fair-Trade businesses come to the Brickyard, promote their products, and explain what Fair-Trade is,” Fulton said.
The CARE event next spring will be a unique kind of baby shower for underprivileged mothers, providing them with different forms of help, according to Fulton.
“We have all kinds of donations of baby supplies,” Fulton said, “Speakers will come and speak about relevant topics such as SIDS and how to prevent it, the importance of communal care—things like that.”
Fulton explained at the baby shower, mothers will also be paired with a doula , a person who helps a woman before and during childbirth. Last year the baby shower was a great success, according to Fulton.
Among other events, CARE will send out CARE packages to less fortunate people throughout the world during December.
Jessica Green, co-president of CARE, explained the organization is currently making an effort to recruit new members. Both Green and Fulton encourage all students who are interested in service to join CARE.
“We’re focused on recruiting people, focused on letting people know we’re active,” Green said.
Green also explained that CARE is working with the organization Kiva to give microfinances to those who need them.
“A microfinance is basically where you get money and put it in an account and lend it to people who don’t have the finances to do that,” Green said.
Nick Murphy, sophomore in chemical engineering, expressed his support for the organization’s goals.
“It’s a good thing,” Murphy said. “There are some people who are worried about how big their sandwich is going to be.”
Murphy explained the problems we have in college are often trivial compared to those of people in poverty. He believes what students are doing now could have a big impact on the future.
“It’s great that students are going at it without any profit, I think that other students could see that and be inspired,” Murphy said.
The Facebook group for CARE currently has 157 members, a representation of how many students feel strongly about their causes. Only eight members were present at Tuesday’s meeting.
The students of CARE at the University have a genuine desire to make a difference in the community. With big plans for the upcoming semester, CARE members believe they can make a true difference in the community.
“If we can pull off what we’re trying to pull off this semester I’ll feel we’ve done something,” Green said.
CARE meets every other Tuesday at 7:30 in Caldwell Hall. They welcome all students to their group and encourage students to become active in the local and global community.
