Saturday, November 25, 2006

Tech students surpass goal

Socorro native heard of wreck and wanted to help

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

An act of compassion from New Mexico Tech students to a teenager they have never met has stretched to the other side of the state.

Raising money for Arissa Garcia, the lone survivor of a drunken driving crash that killed her family earlier this month, chemical engineering sophomores Acacia Barraza and Sarah Diaz collected about $1,652 as of Wednesday evening. They surpassed their goal of $1,000.

More than $661 came from Portales.

When Eastern New Mexico University student and Socorro native Kiyoka Scharle heard about the wreck, she wondered why she couldn't have taken the place of the family, but she didn't know how to help. Then, she read the online Chieftain article about Barraza and Diaz' fundraiser and saw Diaz' phone number.

"And so I called," she said.

The Tech students were glad to hear from Scharle.

"That was so awesome," Barraza said.

The tragedy brought people together, although it's sad the connections had to happen that way, she continued.

Scharle set the goal of raising $400 before Thanksgiving break, meaning in three days, and exceeded it.

Her church, University Baptist Church in Portales, gave $100, and the rest came from faculty and students. The university's Baptist Student Union and Kappa Sigma fraternity helped.

In Portales after the break, the Baptist Student Union has agreed to collect an offering for the next two weeks, and a band committed to play a fundraising concert for Garcia. Diaz and Barraza are working on another fundraiser as well.

The three women said asking for money was difficult at first.

Diaz said people initially seemed suspicious the students would keep the money for themselves. However, Barraza said people were more trusting after they heard about the fundraiser more.

About $400 of the Socorro contribution came from collection boxes around campus, with around $250 from the Tech Golf Course box.

Diaz said even U.S. Navy personnel who visited campus to talk about a particular program contributed.

"It pretty much just touched everyone's heart a little," she said.

She spoke of a woman asking to meet her and Barraza and then offering $50 and her help. Also, the manager of Smith's Food and Drug Store took the Tech students to lunch, saying he was proud of them and glad they were helping in the community.

Diaz and Barraza are waiting to hear back from Socorro businesses they've asked for help.

They thanked everyone who contributed, including those who gave pocket change, and expressed appreciation for extra help from friends.

"All our friends were on call," Diaz said.

Barraza said their friends would bring them anything they needed, such as paper or collection boxes.

"And it was just such a great help," she said.

Diaz said friends also helped count change.

Anyone who is interested in donating can contact Diaz at 505-470-1183 or by e-mail to sdiaz@nmt.edu. Also, an account has been set up for Garcia at Wells Fargo Bank.

aduncan@dchieftain.com

E-mail this story Printer-friendly version