Hurricane Relief Efforts Continue at Slower Pace

Due to the nature of the recent hurricane season, the Valdosta State University community has had countless opportunities to provide relief through many organizations both on and off campus. These various organizations donated money, supplies and time to help hurricane victims in various parts of the country. Relief efforts at VSU will continue as needed, though at a slower pace.

Student Life

Student Life is collecting personal care items, clothing and non perishable food for the Salvation Army for an indefinite period of time. Donations can be dropped off at the Student Life office, on the second floor of University Union.
"We will continue to collect goods until people stop giving," said John Wright, director of Student Life. Call 333-5674 for more information.

Congratulations for the successful VSU related activities listed below:

Social Work students
Social Work students and instructors completed a campaign in September to collect items and money. The Graduate Social Work Organization, Alpha Delta Mu Social Work Honor Society and Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society cooperated in this venture. Many items received included checks, clothing, food items, school supplies, and toys. These were contributed to the Plant Operations site. Also, students from Social Work have traveled to assist Katrina victims directly.

The Society of International Students
The Society of International Students raised a substantial amount during the Car Wash and Bake Sale held earlier in the month. Funds were distributed to the Red Cross.

VSU Athletics
The VSU Athletics effort, with the support of fans and volunteers during the September 10 Blazers football game, raised $2,634.45 for the Red Cross. In addition Athletics collected 350 pounds of food and disaster relief items ($591.50 in dollar value) and $325.81 in cash donations for America's Second Harvest of South Georgia.


Presbyterian Student Center of VSU
The Student to Student project, sponsored by the Presbyterian Student Center of VSU, collected a huge supply of pencils, pens, notebook paper, binders, rulers, compasses, highlighters, glue, markers, crayons and scissors for young hurricane victims. Working with the Department of Education, the Center identified a school that will distribute the supplies collected at VSU to school children in need. The organization would like to thank all those who contributed.


Lowndes Advocacy Resources Center (LARC)
VSU members helped the Lowndes Advocacy Resources Center (LARC) pack boxes of food for victims of Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi, from September 26 � 30. The Defense Supply Center, part of the Department of Defense, and the Red Cross asked LARC to make 20,000 boxes by Friday, September 30, and thanks to all the volunteers who literally worked around the clock, LARC exceeded that amount by nearly 1,000 boxes.

Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts Continue on Campus---VSU Division of Social Work graduate students gathered in the office of Dr. Mike Meacham recently after collecting relief items for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The items were collected by Plant Operations for distribution to the Salvation Army. The Graduate Social Work Organization, Alpha Delta Mu Social Work Honor Society and Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society cooperated in this venture. Many items were received including checks, clothing, food items, school supplies, and toys. Also, students have traveled to assist victims directly.

Alpha Gamma Delta Can Castles for Katrina Relief
Alpha Gamma Delta held a canned food drive at Palm's Quad, September 28, to help the Katrina Relief Effort. All organizations were asked to collect as many cans as possible, then had three hours to build their "can castle," which will be judged by various Faculty and Staff from VSU. For a complete list of winners, contact Jennifer Jones at jennpjc8@hotmail.com.


VSU NAACP Donated Part of "Gospel" Proceeds
VSU NAACP hosted "The Four Gospel Writers" on September 29, in the Science Auditorium and donated a portion of all proceeds to the Katrina Relief Efforts. For more information, contact vsunaacp@yahoo.com.


National Dine for America Day at The Loop
The Loop Pizza Grill at University Union, in collaboration with other restaurants participating in the National Dine for America Day across the country, donated 10 percent of all receipts they collected on October 5, 2005 to aid in hurricane relief. The money collected was given to the American Red Cross to use as needed to help hurricane victims.


VSU Rec for Relief
For a donation of $2, VSU members can receive a VSU "Rec for Relief" bracelet. This Campus Recreation activity will take place at the Palms Quad on October 19-20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and again on October 26-27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bracelets are also available from the front desk at the Rec Center. All sale proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief fund. For more information, call Campus Recreation at 333-5898.


VSU Plant Operations
VSU Plant Operations, located behind Hardee's and BB&T Bank at 2903 N. Ashley Street, just completed their hurricane relief collection efforts. The organization collected five full truck loads of supplies, such as non-perishable food, baby items, toiletries, personal hygiene items, water, first aid supplies, pet food and clothing.

Catherine Roark, of Plant Operations and an organizer of VSU's relief efforts, expressed her appreciation for all those who donated money, supplies and time. Roark said that although she may never meet the people who were helped by the collective efforts of all, she knows in her heart that they have done a good thing.