• • Service to Others Katrina victims touched O nAug. 29, 2005, Am«icans were moved to action when Hurricane Katrina made landfall and dev– astated the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and AJabama. Individuals and organizations around the country began coordinating relief efforts for af– fected citizens. Across Harding's campus, students began wondering how they could help. Srudems had the opporruniry to donate to several reliefefforts. Some donated supplies to the efforts of me Downtown Church ofChrist, and others donated money after chapel, when more than $3,000was raised. The Bison football ream also donated more than $900 in proceeds from team T-shirt sales. Other campus e\'cnrs aided in the reliefeffort. "Asleep on the Wind," a student production by Ellen Byron, donated a portion of the proceeds to the relief, and Acappella performed a benefit concert on Harding's campus. "We're doing all kinds of things," senior Josh Bundy, Srudenr Association president, said. "From the beginning when the hurricane hit, we've done quite a few things. We had students donating supplies. "We've extended the [service rel ief] week– end trips until later in November and a few in December and also sprin,g break campaigns will follow up with Mandeville, La. - a church we've worked with a lot - and several other churches," Bundy said. As time passed after the initial response to Hurricane Katrina, there was a decline in the public's interest in volunteering, Dr. Jack Shock, professorofcommunication and Red. Cross public relations specialist, said. Shock ,-vas involved with the Red Cross reliefefforts. "Anyone in the disaster communi ty can tell you that 'hurricane fatigue' is a common occur– rence after a single hurricane," Shock said. "With this season's record number ofnamed stonns, it's no wonder that the public's concern has waned over the last few months. It's very important (0 remember the ongoing needs of the people who live in the affected areas." Bundy, on the other hand, said he had not seen a decline in the willingness and inrerest in helping on Harding's campus. Bundy estimated that by the first weekend in November, 121 Harding srudents donated more than 2,000 hours of labor through work trips to affected areas of Louisiana. "If we continue at me rate that,-ve have, by the time that we fin ish the trips in December, we'll probably [have sent] abom 200 [volunteers]," Bundy said. "We still have students coming every day to sign up." Not every student on campus was able co assist by traveling to Louisiana. The students who could nor make the trip found other ways to help victims of Katrina. "There (are] some students who volunteer locally in different ways - helping serve food to evacuees who are here in the area," Bundy said. "A lot of them have showed up at [Camp] Wyldewood to help out there." CampWyldewood in Searcyopened its doors the week the hurricane hit to house evacuees who needed a place (0 stay temporarily. Sophomore Eric Hollingsworth, who worked as a counselor at Camp Wyldewood this summer, was asked by Michael Lincoln, director ofCamp Wyldewood, [0 help. Hollingsworth said he went to the camp with three Q[her people to dean shower houses. He said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve the hurricane victims locally. Bundy said that he felt chac most students found some way to help with the effortS. "I'd guess chat the majori ty of the student body, either through giving supplies, money [or] traveling to work, has participated in someway," Bundy said. "Even ifit was by buying one ofthe football team'sT-shirtS, some ofthe proceeds went to it. Preny much everyone has had a chance to help in some way." .Jillion Hicks
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==