A night of food, dancing and charity kicked off on Feb. 17 to celebrate Mardi Gras and raise money for a project to help the Haitian people.

The newly formed Klub Kreyol and the French Club hosted the fourth annual Mardi Gras Ball in the Cora I. Grove Spiritual Center at Shippensburg University.

There was a $5 charge to attend and additional donations were accepted. The money is going toward a fund to build a medical dispensary in Gros Mangles, Haiti, on the island of La Gonave.

The fundraising-based event came after a group of SU students and faculty journeyed to Haiti during winter break. In 2013, the group built a playground at a school, and, in 2014, they added to the playground, nearly doubling its size.

“Everything you have been contributing is going to make life a better place,” Agnes Ragone, a professor of modern languages, said.

Dozens of people attended the event, including students, professors and faculty, who were in for an evening of traditional foods, along with music and dance lessons. José Ricardo-Osorio, an associate professor of modern languages and department chair, organized the dancing.

Senior Piotr Ziemkiewicz and sophomore Ali Mowers attended the event for a cultural experience. The two took part in much of the dancing, following Ricardo-Osorio’s lead.

“It brings out a different caliber of people,” Ziemkiewicz said, who plans on going to France in the fall semester.

Traditional bead necklaces were handed out upon arrival and stands were set up displaying information about the club, its activities and the community that would benefit from the dispensary.

A mix of traditional deserts was available, along with coffee, tea and soda. The clubs set up a slideshow featuring pictures from Haiti and had a stereo playing ethnic music.

“We’re trying to blend the traditions of the French-speaking world,” Ragone said.

Some students were present to obtain extra credit for class. They participated in dancing and enjoyed learning about the issues concerning Haiti.

“Other than fun, I want them [students] to learn a little bit about Haiti,” Ricardo-Osorio said, adding he hopes the event will show students that Haiti has regular people with their own unique culture. “It’s a good way and a fun way to learn about other cultures.”

Mark Sachleben, an associate professor of political science, attended the event to support the club in its efforts to help Haiti. He leads a short-term study abroad program to the Caribbean, every year, and noted the problems Haiti faces can be seen from visiting the surrounding islands.

“I think poverty is the main issue, but from my perspective, it’s important to understand where the poverty comes from,” Sachlenben said. He explained that 90 percent of Haiti was once covered in forest, but the people over-harvested the trees, causing deforestation and poor soil quality.

“In many ways, the problem starts with environmental problems,” Sachlenben said, adding that the problems do not end there, but also include corruption of government. He said one of the better aspects of the event was “how people, here, become educated about the problem.”

When the group traveled to Haiti over the winter break they experienced, first-hand, the poverty the Haitian people live with, every day.

“By the time they hit the ground in Haiti, the students have a lot of information, a lot of background,” Ragone said, according to ship.edu. “Still, often they are stunned, no matter how you prepare them. The hunger, the living conditions, the hardships are a reality they cannot escape.”

Five students and two faculty members made up the group that went to Haiti from SU and spent two weeks learning about Haitian linguistics and history. Ragone and Blandine Mitaut, an associate professor of French, taught the students as part of their six-credit seminar.

The Mardi Gras fundraising event was a way for students to have fun, support the Haitian people and get educated about the dire circumstances some people face.

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