Newswise — As thousands are feared dead and many more left homeless in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, students and employees at West Virginia University are mobilizing relief efforts for survivors of the monster storm.
On Tuesday, Sept. 6, the WVU Student Health Advisory Board " along with the Student Government Association, fraternities and sororities, Campus Crusade for Christ and many other student organizations " will launch a two-week, campuswide fund-raiser called "Dollars for Disaster: Hurricane Katrina Relief."
Student volunteers will accept donations from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 6-9, 12-16 and 19-20 in the Mountainlair and Health Sciences Center (outside the HSC cafeteria).
SHAB is coordinating the "Dollars for Disaster" fund-raiser through the River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross. The money will help the Red Cross provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to people devastated by the hurricane, said to be the worst natural disaster in the United States since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
"This is a way for the WVU and Morgantown communities to show we care and directly help those devastated by Hurricane Katrina," said Lisa Costello, SHAB president and fund-raiser organizer. "We are calling on students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni to make financial donations of $1 or more for the cause."
University departments and student organizations are encouraged to collect and donate as units, she added. Every unit will be recognized on a display in the 'Lair.Cash and checks will be accepted. Checks should be made out to ARC Hurricane Katrina. If people would like their donations to go to a designated state, they may note that in the memo line. Donations should be mailed to: SHAB/WVU Health Service, P.O. Box 9247, Morgantown, WV 26506.
As with last year's tsunami fund-raiser that raised more than $10,000, each person who lends a hand is encouraged to sign his or her name on a "hand" made out of paper. These "hands" will be available at the collection sites and exhibited in the 'Lair.
For more information or to volunteer with the fund-raiser, e-mail [email protected].
WVU, other state colleges join forces to help displaced studentsWhile University-wide relief efforts are under way, the West Virginia Campus Compact, operated from WVU, is also busy communicating with its 17 member colleges and universities to see if there is space available to house and educate the thousands of students displaced by the storm.
Kim Colebank, director of WVU's Office of Service Learning Programs, is coordinating outreach efforts with Jerry Beasley, Concord University president and WVCC Presidents Council chair. "We're currently conducting an availability assessment," she said, "to see if food and residence halls are available so we can invite them to our schools. We're focusing on immediate relief " how we can accommodate them and get them here."
Two students from Tulane University, meanwhile, have been admitted here, WVU officials said, and a third student will speak with University officials Friday.Colebank said student volunteers are needed to make phone calls. If anyone is interested in getting involved, they can call 304-293-8761 and talk to Chris Willis, a volunteer with the Office of Service Learning Programs.
WVU has some 185 students from Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and South Florida attending classes and wants to hear from anyone experiencing family difficulties or loss. Call the Student Infoline at 304-293-5555. For counseling services, call the Carruth Center at 304-293-4431.
From cyberspace to your street " other ways to help
Outreach groups across north-central West Virginia and the region continued their efforts for the people caught in Katrina's path.
The United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties will stage a "response and recovery collection" of cash and checks Sept. 9 at WVU Hospitals, the Monongalia County Courthouse, Mountaineer Mall and The Dominion Post/W.Va. Radio Corp. offices in Sabraton.
WVU Hospitals will match employee contributions up to $10,000 in that effort. Call 304-296-7525 for more information.
Blood drives will be hosted by the Mountain Laurel Chapter of the American Red Cross today (Sept.1) from 2-7 p.m. at the Bruceton Mills Fire Hall in neighboring Preston County; and tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 2) from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Morgantown Blood Center, on Pineview Drive.
A blood drive will also be held at WVU Wednesday, Sept. 7, from 1-7 p.m. at Arnold Hall on the Downtown Campus.
The organization is also encouraging monetary donations for the relief effort. Call 304-598-9500 or (800) HELP-NOW for details.
Morgantown's detachment of the Salvation Army is also accepting donations, as it readies to send its own staffers to the hurricane area. For more information, call 304-296-3525 or visit your local Wal-Mart or Sam's Club.
EDEN, the national Extension Disaster Education Network also has a list of online resources at www.eden.lsu.edu/; and people can also track down family members at colleges and universities in the affected areas by joining a "Katrina Community" online at The Society for College and University Planning. That URL is http://www.scup.org/.
'Waiting for the next storm'
As the battered Gulf Coast rebuilds in the months ahead, there's more than a good chance that WVU will play a role in the emotional health and well-being of the endeavor. The University's Job Accommodation Network is an international service that provides consulting for businesses whose employees are grappling with physical and emotional issues.
Months after the Sept. 11 attacks the network known as JAN fielded hundreds of calls from the New York-Washington area from frazzled personnel managers wondering how to best accommodate employees suddenly finding themselves in the throes of post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Deborah Hendricks, who oversees JAN's expects more of the same in the months ahead, courtesy of Katrina. "It's like one storm has passed and we're waiting for the next one to hit," Hendricks said. "You can't 'shake off' a devastating hurricane. We just want people to know we're to help, when they need us."
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