Downers Grove South High Students Respond to Crisis in Nepal

Photo: DGS Students are selling T-shirts to respond to the crisis in Nepal

Hundreds of thousands of people who live in Nepal have been left homeless, unable to sleep in their homes due to structural concerns after the devastating earthquake in April. Downers Grove South High students are responding to the desperate need for shelter by raising money to purchase tents for affected families.

“I want you to close your eyes and imagine ten families; they’re out on the streets, they cannot go into their homes, and it’s pouring rain,” said freshman Priya Patel while presenting at the recent Downtown Downers Grove Management business meeting, where local business owners learned about the effort and what they could do to assist. “Now picture those same ten families with tents over their heads. It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling.”

To raise money, students designed T-shirts and are selling each one for $10. (See csd99.org/south to order.) The T-shirts have a unique hieroglyphic logo that spells out the slogan “Pay Attention,” with the emphasis on the word “tent.”

“We found out that the school has never sold more than 200 of any T-shirt, so we went ahead and ordered 800,” said social studies teacher and co-sponsor of the effort Robyn Fardy. “We are obviously optimistic that everyone in our community will want to show their support for this cause.” Greg Maloney, also a social studies teacher, is a co-sponsor of the effort as well.

Students are partnering with Lions Clubs International, which will match a portion of the funds students raise. Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest voluntary service organization. Since the earthquake, 14,000 Lions Club members have been working in Nepal, sheltering victims, distributing food and water, and providing medical care.

The students also asked local business owners to help them promote the effort by setting out coin jars in their stores.

“We always ask ourselves in school, ‘when are we ever going to use this?’” says freshman Faith Ley. “This is a really good example of something we will use… By ensuring that adults are involved too, and that it’s not just a high school thing, it will make it so much easier for everyone in the community to be aware of what’s still going on in Nepal.”

For more information about Downers Grove South High School, please visit www.csd99.org/south.

For information about Lions Clubs International, please visit www.lcif.org.

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