Several area businesses are trying to help earthquake victims in Haiti by staging benefits and donating proceeds from sales to relief organizations.
From noon to midnight Thursday, Spoons Yogurt in College Station will donate all of the money from sales to the American Red Cross.
Founder and president David Mebane said he and his family have been blessed and wanted to do what they could to help.
"One day of yogurt sales is a blip on the radar for us but maybe can make a significant difference over there."
Mebane said making a contribution to the relief effort was important for many reasons.
"Because we can. Because we should. Because it's the right thing to do," he said.
Spoons Yogurt is at 1509 S. Texas Ave.
Melissa Reyna, a graduate student at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, said she couldn't sit by and watch the events unfolding without doing something. So she organized a concert, with donations going to Doctors Without Borders.
Village Cafe and Art979 Gallery, at 210 26th St. in Bryan, will host the benefit from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday.
A percentage of that evening's sales from the businesses will also be donated, owner Kristy Petty said. And there will be a traditional Haitian meal, she said.
"I realize that people are struggling financially as well," Reyna said. "It's difficult to make a huge commitment, but my idea is maybe we can get everybody to do a little and maybe our concerted efforts can make a difference."
Reyna and Cody Marx Bailey, a co-founder of The Creative Space in downtown Bryan, are also coordinating a benefit in front of The Fountain Plaza at The University Town Center in College Station.
Bailey said local musician Jacob Asbill will perform, along with other acoustic artists, from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday in front of Ben & Jerry's and It's a Grind. Lorrie Massey, from 101.9 The Beat, will be broadcasting live as the businesses and artists collect donations.
In that same circle around the fountain, Boston's The Gourmet Pizza will donate 10 percent of all sales during the benefit to Oxfam America.
Boston's franchisee Horace Calvert said he was happy to get involved when he heard what the surrounding businesses were doing.
"Ever since I heard what was going on down there, we've been looking for an opportunity to participate," he said.
Revolution Café & Bar will also host a benefit concert, from 8 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday. Owner Rola Cerone said there will be music, art and poetry at the event at 211 B S. Main St. in Bryan.
Cerone said the cover charge and 10 percent of sales will be donated to Yele Haiti and Doctors without Borders. Donation boxes will be placed at the door so patrons can choose between the two.
"I, like many others I know, feel helpless watching such a tragedy unfold," she said. "This benefit concert is an opportunity for our community to rally together to do our part to help another community through such a devastating tragedy."
Artist Jerome Riddle will donate two paintings for a silent auction, and entertainment will include performances by Danny Painter and Meggie Wiggins from Lost2gether, slam poetry by Stephen Sargent, readings from the poet Safi, music by J. Goodin, and several other acts.
And A&M United Methodist Church in College Station is continuing to collect donations toward its goal of $11,000 for the construction of a portable medical clinic to be sent to Haiti. Church member Linda Marr said enough money has already been raised to purchase the metal container, which will be delivered by the end of next week.
The church built its first clinic in 2008 and found out last week that it was delivered in October to an orphanage outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It survived the earthquake and has been serving earthquake victims since.
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