Mater Dei students donate coats for earthquake victims

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
November 3, 2005

Students at Mater Dei School in Sioux City have responded to the earthquake in Pakistan by collecting winter coats to send overseas.

"One of our Mater Dei parents approached me to see if we would be interested in collecting coats for those in Pakistan whose homes have been damaged because of the earthquake," said Andrea Bengford, a third grade teacher at Mater Dei.

Stacey Todd, the mother of a third grade student, is a nurse at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City and works with two doctors from Pakistan. One of the doctors just recently moved to Sioux City.

"When he started, he was telling us about how horrible this was," said Todd. "He was asking people for anything that could keep people warm to send over there."

She explained that the doctor told her that people in the rural areas had been living in mud huts and caves but some of those have now collapsed due to the earthquake.

Todd sent out an e-mail to the school and then letters were sent home to Mater Dei families. As of Oct. 28 the students had collected two boxes full of coats to be sent to Pakistan.

"We have Gospel values at Mater Dei. The Gospel value that we have worked on in the past is compassion," said Bengford. "We are trying to set a good example for our students. With them donating their coats, they are learning compassion for those victims of the earthquake."

Mater Dei principal, Marilyn Blum, added that the project shows that the students know what compassion is and they are practicing it.

"Since they are the ones that are responding to this need, I think they are setting the example for those around them," said Blum. "They were informed that these children were in need of coats and without a second thought they took it on. Mater Dei School is truly a community of stewards. They feel strongly that they can help others in need and help others see the need to help."

According to Todd, Dr. Sami Iqbal has been sending the coats to New York where the American Red Cross is airlifting them over to Pakistan.

"Right now it seems that people are kind of tapped out from giving money here and there - Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina," said Todd. "People seem very generous when it comes to giving coats that don't fit them anymore. Dr. Sami had said they didn't care if they were ripped, torn or stained. These people are just desperate for warmth with winter setting in over there."

Blum concluded that Mater Dei students and staff are "always ready to respond compassionately" and prayers are the first response.

"They quickly responded to the Hurricane Katrina victims with prayers and funds, bringing in $2,000 in three days of Pray, Play and Learn," said Blum. "The middle school students believe so much in prayer that they have a prayer request area in the entrance of the school where anyone can write down their requests. They show a strong belief in their faith, the power of prayer and good will towards others."