Read this note for details of the Elon community's first response to assist the victims of the Gulf Coast hurricane disaster...
Thank you for your many emails identifying students, faculty and staff at Elon whose families have been directly impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, as well as your generous offerings to provide assistance for the victims of this extraordinary natural disaster. Several in our community who have loved ones in the stricken Gulf Coast area have expressed their deep appreciation for the support of their friends and colleagues.
A steering committee of students, faculty and staff has developed the following ways members of the Elon community may respond to the needs created by the hurricane. Additional options to help are being developed and will be communicated via email and E-net in the next few days. In the short term, the major relief agencies strongly advise that supplies not be sent, but rather money is the primary need and asset that can provide immediate relief. All monies collected at Elon will be given to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
- White Ribbons Campaign: White ribbons will be distributed at the faculty meeting and at administrative offices and in the Moseley Center for students next week for those who wish to show support for the victims of the hurricane in this way.
- Football Game Fundraising Blitz: Donations will be collected at Saturday night’s home Phoenix Football Game against Coastal Carolina. Students will be at collection tables at the entrances to Rhodes Stadium, and at tables at the concession stands.
- Collection Tables in the Moseley Center: Cash (or Phoenix Cash) donations will be collected by students at tables in the Moseley Campus Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, September 5-16.
- Wristbands: The Greek Tri-Council will begin selling wristbands within a few days.
- Mardi Gras College Coffee Bake Sale: The September 13 College Coffee will have a Mardi Gras theme with a jazz trio. Faculty, staff and students may donate their bake goods with proceeds going to the relief effort. Contact Linda Martindale in Carlton 324, ext 5620, martinda@elon.edu, to let her know of your interest to decorate for the event and/or prepare bake goods.
- Blood Drive in the Moseley Center on October 25 and 26 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The American Red Cross advises Elon community members to wait until this drive is on campus to give blood as they have an overwhelming number of donors now (blood has 43 day shelf life) and one may not give blood now and in October.
Elon Enrolling Students Displaced from Universities in New Orleans: Elon University Admissions is working with several students who were enrolled at Tulane or Loyola Universities in New Orleans and has three students confirmed to attend Elon as Special Students this fall. Elon is also working with Dillard University, a United Church of Christ affiliated University like Elon, to determine possibilities for inviting students from that school to enroll at Elon.
Students participating in off-campus programs (study abroad, internships, etc.) may contribute Phoenix Cash. Send an e-mail to Smith Jackson at jacksons@elon.edu; include your 16 digit card number and a statement authorizing the University to deduct your requested amount form your Phoenix Cash account.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni or parents may donate cash or send checks to the Office of the Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students, Alamance 109, 2188 Campus Box. Please note: Since we are collecting these funds on behalf of other entities, these donations are not tax deductible gifts to the University. However, if you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the American Red Cross or Salvation Army, please make the check payable to the agency and send to the Office of the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at the address above. We will be glad to include it when we send the fundraising donations to these agencies.
DIRECT RELIEF OPPORTUNITIES
There are currently minimum infrastructures for volunteers to be received to provide direct service work in the affected Gulf Coast area. Elon community members may sign-up for an eight-hour training in mass feeding and sheltering by the American Red Cross to prepare for future relief trips to the Gulf Coast–contact Tammy Cobb in the Kernodle Center for Service Learning (ext 7250) or the American Red Cross at 226-4906.
The Elon Hurricane Katrina Response Steering Committee is investigating long-term recovery efforts in which Elon might concentrate its relief efforts by adopting a community or neighborhood. The Kernodle Center for Service Learning will offer service trips during semester or holiday breaks as rebuilding efforts are able to get underway. A winter term relief trip is being planned by a faculty member and student at this time.
To stay aware of the developments in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, visit these websites: www.redcross.org or www.salvationarmyUSA.org .
Smith Jackson
Vice President for Student Life
& Dean of Students