Niagara University students are collecting medical supplies for earthquake victims in Haiti. YNN's Nicki Mayo reports the students are teaming up with a Kenmore’s Yotvata Community Church to get to goods directly to a Pierre Payen Hospital near Port-au-Prince.

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NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- “Cooking, friends family, music, they all represent Haiti,” said East Aurora’s Nadege Petrie. “I think it’s great that we have all of that here, especially at Niagara University,” added the sophomore International Studies and French student.

Niagara University Students are competing to see which student groups can collect the most food and medical supplies for Haiti earthquake victims.

“We have students from all over the world. I think it’s good that they are all putting a hand in to help Haiti,” said Petrie.

Caribbean music and performances filled the Gallagher Student Center, as campus groups competed to see who can donate the most to the Yotvata Community Church’s earthquake relief drive.

“I am so overwhelmed and glad with the way people are coming in and reaching out,” said Yotvata’s Rev. Walter Thermidore.

“We said we want to send the things that matter. He had a list. So we went right with it,” said David Blackburn with Niagara University’s Multicultural Affairs Office.

Niagara University students are collecting the following items to donate to the Yotvata Community Church in Kenmore:

Toiletries and first aid supplies are in high demand in earthquake ravaged port-au-Prince.

First Aid Kits
Flashlights with Batteries
Toiletries
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Soap
Shampoo
Deodorant
Towels
Washcloths

The collection is part of a competition to win a pizza party, but most of the students say this is a way to help a local cause while making a global impact.

Yotvata Community Church is collecting food and medical supplies for the Pierre Payen Hospital about 90 minutes north of Port-au-Prince. The hospital is struggling to care for earthquake victims.

“I might look white, but Haiti is still my home,” said Niagara Falls’ Stephen Hosler. He grew up in Haiti, watching the hospital improve over the years.

“It’s been really neat to see it grow from this little clinic with no full time staff to now we actually have a Haitian doctor who was trained in the United states who’s our Chief of Staff,” Holser added.

The Yotvata Church plans to send the Niagara University donations to the Pierre Payen Hospital later this month.

The “NU Helps Haiti” party with a purpose collected supplies for the Yotvata community Church’s Earthquake Relief drive.

“When people see other’s suffering, there is something that connects you,” said rev. Thermidor.

Pierre Payen Haiti Hospital Help