Sodexho, International Club Raise Funds for Tsunami Relief Efforts

Pictured left to right: Dennis Markeson, director of Sodexho; Sarah Martin, I-Club member and Date Auction coordinator; Dinisha Warusavitharana, I-Club member; Petar Mihaylov, I-Club treasurer; and Melanee Crist, assistant director for international education.

Truman students made a significant contribution to tsunami relief organizations recently. Sodexho and the International Club led two separate and successful fund-raising events.

Sodexho, the University’s food service provider, implemented a food fast during the week of Feb. 28-March 4. Students living in the residence halls participated in the fast by abstaining from eating in the dining halls for a designated meal. The money that would normally be spent on that meal was then pooled into a donation fund.

Dennis Markeson, director of Sodexho and organizer of the food fast, said the event raised more than $2,700 to be donated to the Red Cross. Markeson said Sodexho enjoys working with students on worthwhile causes such as this.

“I felt that it was important that we organize an effort in which all students living on campus could contribute,” he said. “I am pleased with the participation.”

The International Club also sponsored a date auction fund-raiser Feb. 28 for tsunami relief. The group raised almost $910.

This money will be donated to the Helabima Friendship Synopsis to help the surviving children of tsunami victims. International Club member Dinisha Warusavitharana recommended this organization. Warusavitharana is an international student from Sri Lanka, where more than 40,000 people died in the tsunami. Warusavitharana lost two cousins in the tsunami.