Students learned about the devastation from Hurricane Katrina and the need for ongoing assistance in the Gulf Coast region during Katrina Week, held April 24-28. The event was organized by the Kernodle Center for Service Learning. Details...
What would you do if your house was filled with eight feet of water? What if it kept rising? Through Katrina Week, students from the Kernodle Center for Service Learning challenged the Elon community to consider challenging situations like those faced by survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Organizers also stressed the continuing need for assistance.
Nearly 100 Elon students have participated in service trips or service-learning courses that provided direct relief to the communities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland, Mississippi. Representatives from all of these trips came together to organize and run Katrina Week because, as senior Colleen Clark said, “it is easy to forget about the storm’s aftermath. There are still tons of people suffering down there.”
Through documentaries, decorations, a forum, and other events, the organizers hope to share a little of their experiences in Mississippi with the rest of Elon. “The week is going to give the community a sense of what it’s like to go down and see the devastation,” says junior Ariel White.
One of the highlights of Katrina Week was a forum featuring a moving presentation by the Milner family of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The Milners befriended a group of Elon students over the past winter and agreed to travel to Elon to talk about their experiences in the aftermath of Katrina. Attendees were deeply moved by the family’s stories and message of hope.
Students have raised over $1,000 for Katrina Relief throughout the week. Elon’s general Katrina Relief fund is also still accepting donations. Please contact Brian O’Shea if you are interested in contributing.
Be on the lookout for more information on Elon’s continuing efforts in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Area. Next month, a group of Elon faculty, staff and students will depart to contribute their time and energy to the relief efforts.