Elon continued its dedication to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi as 22 students and 2 staff advisers gave up their break between the winter and spring terms to travel to the affected area. The group was there Jan. 25-29.
“Elon has developed a relationship with the people of Bay St. Louis that has remained consistent. The plan is to continue this for at least another year,” said Mary Morrison, director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning. “It is that sustained commitment that results in change.”
The most recent group of students stayed in Kiln, Mississippi, about 10 miles north of Bay St. Louis, at Camp Coastal Outpost, a volunteer facility that has been providing housing, meals and jobs for people and organizations who to help. Camp Coastal has been in operation since March 2006 and recently started on a project to complete 150 homes for Katrina victims before June 30, 2007. The $2 million project is being funded by a Saudi Arabian philanthropic group.
The Elon volunteers were able to assist with this project thanks to an anonymous $5,000 donation to the efforts being led by the Kernodle Center for Service Learning.
During the three workdays the group helped begin a house by laying a foundation and did dry-wall work on two other houses.
“It is as much about building relationships as it is rebuilding,” Morrison added.
A trip for spring break is currently being planned and is scheduled for March 17-24. Any students interested can get information from the Kernodle Center for Service Learning, Moseley 230.