Food for a newly-orphaned child. Medical attention for an injured firefighter. A proper burial for a young office worker. Sacramento State students are helping to provide all of these things and more through Associated Students, Inc.?s ONE Dollar, ONE Nation donation drive.

The drive is part of a national relief effort organized by the McCormick Tribune Foundation, a Chicago-based charity organization, with local Fox affiliate KTXL Channel 40 spearheading the Sacramento-area response.

“Fox 40 and other stations have a philanthropic partnership with us,” said David Anderson, director of development for the McCormick Tribune Foundation. “The funds that they raise are matched by us and are granted to programs in New York.”

ASI became involved in the fundraising after students came to the organization with concerns.

“One student came to us and asked to do a candlelight vigil. Then, another student suggested raising money for the Red Cross, but Fox 40 e-mailed us to let us know that they would match any funds that we raised,” said ASI Press Secretary Janus Norman.

The McCormick Tribune Foundation said it would match all donations, up to $5 million, with 50 cents on the dollar.

The limit was reached quickly, said Elyse Dietrich, director of Public Affairs at Fox 40. As of last Friday, $5.5 million had already been raised. The matching funds bring that total up to $8 million, Dietrich said.

Sac State students have already contributed $2,000 to that total, though ASI has a goal of $27,000 ? one dollar for every student, Norman said.

“Give a dollar, every bit helps,” Norman said. “Your dollar, put together with all the other donations ? it adds quickly.”A preliminary $3 million has already been sent to New York, Dietrich said.

“It goes towards everything from the NYPD and firemen?s widows fund to directly helping families of killed workers, civilians and military employees,” he said.

Norman suggested that the drive would help not only those who receive the money, but also those who donate.

“It gives the students a sense of being a part of it,” he said. “(The attacks) left people feeling powerless; this gives them a sense of power.”