BY B.G. GREGG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When several Xavier students began collecting supplies late last year for a humanitarian trip to Nicaragua, they were a little worried that a plan to drive the supplies south would leave them open to crime. But the crime occurred before they ever got the supplies out of storage.
Someone broke into a Xavier University storage facility and stole and vandalized the medical and school supplies the group was collecting for distribution in Nicaragua. Now they're hoping the community will come to their aid.
"It is kind of ironic we were so worried about crime in Florida or somewhere else and it happened right here," said Marjy Givens, one of the students collecting the supplies.
The students planned the trip after spending time in Nicaragua during Xavier's Service Learning Semester. They saw a great need for medical and school supplies and started collecting items and cash.
The donations are being funneled through the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, and the effort is being called the Drive for Justice. The original plan was to drive the supplies in a van, but instead, the students are shipping the supplies and flying down to distribute them.
The vandalisms and thefts, which occurred sometime on June 27 or 28, have put a bump in their drive. The suspects used chalk, markers and paint to damage the storage area, and took typewriters, cellular phones, medical supplies and an air pump.
"They took shampoo and lotions we collected for personal care and spread it all over," said Ms. Givens, 21, of Lawrence, Kan. Xavier Police Chief Michael Couch said his department is looking into several leads, but he couldn't comment further.
The students are packing the remainder of their supplies -- "80 percent is still pretty good," Ms. Givens said -- this weekend and hope to ship them soon. They're flying down to distribute them on July 20.
To make up for their loss, they are seeking immediate donations. Send contributions to the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, 215 E. 14th St., Cincinnati 45210, and write "Drive for Justice" on the memo line.
