Coordination of Volunteer Efforts

From SPSU Wiki

Colleagues,

I have been asked to coordinate SPSU's volunteer efforts to help the survivors and evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. Like all of you, I was deeply moved by the devastation and despair. As we all know, the recovery will take anywhere from months to a lifetime. If you are like me, you are asking, "what can I do?" Many within our SPSU community are already providing assistance individually, as part of an on-campus group, or through an off-campus organization. There are on-going activities to connect food, money, and volunteers with the people and places that have the greatest need. My hope is that we can maximize our efforts by avoiding duplication of effort and by communicating needs and opportunities, thereby focusing our help on those who most need it and to whom we can best deliver it.

To that end, I have identified five areas of opportunity. They are:

On-campus fund-raising activities to support the relief effort -University Honors Program has collected over $1700 for the American Red Cross as of September 7, 2005; -Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is planning a car wash, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, September 10 in the Rec Center parking lot; -The Women's Basketball Team and Ultimate Frisbee Club have joined forces to plan a car wash to benefit the American Red Cross; -ABL will host a New Orleans-style lunch on Tuesday, September 13, 2005, with all proceeds contributed to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

On-campus volunteer needs -None at this time.

Off-campus volunteer needs -Volunteers needed at American Red Cross shelters in Cobb, South Fulton/Clayton, and North Dekalb/South Gwinnett. Need 300 people for each shelter, including general volunteers and caseworkers. If interested please email anita.leming@cobbcounty.org with your name, phone number, email address and indicate if you want to take caseworker training (takes 3 hours) or be a general volunteer;

On-campus donation opportunities -ABL is sponsoring a food drive from September 6 until September 13, 2005, and will accept non-perishable items including clothing and toiletries; -Darlene Martin (Management) and her husband are from Lumberton and Picayune, Mississippi. Their families were affected and do not expect to have water for four to six weeks. They are planning a trip to take supplies over the weekend and donations would be welcomed. Contact Darlene at 678-915-7439.

Off-campus donation opportunities -The Marietta Salvation Army shelter has a wish list (contact Art Fultz, Captain of the Salvation Army Center on Waterman St. at 770-422-8324): Washers and dryers; Badge-making machine (photo ID laminate); Half dozen large, white dry-erase boards to post messages, information, rules, etc.; Roll-away beds or sturdy cots are desperately needed. -MUST Ministries has set up a food distribution network for the Atlanta area and is providing food and other items for many local groups, including DFACS and the Red Cross. Visit www.mustministries.org or email Jim Cooper at jcooper@spsu.edu for a wish list. They hope to organize a food collection at local grocery stores/Wal Mart/Target. -The Center for Family Resources is collecting money and other items for those who have come to Cobb County for help. Contact Ivy Collins with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce at 770-859-2329. Wish list: Money; Non-perishable food; Diapers; Hygiene items; School supplies.

Here's what I will do: I will post a website on SPSU Place as soon as possible with a list of all that is being done on campus, as well as within the University System...please check regularly for updates to the information. Additionally, I will include a list of off-campus organizations seeking assistance.

Here's what I would like you to do: I ask that you contact me if you are initiating an event or activity, or if you know of a club or organization planning an endeavor to help. I will simply maintain a list and share it with the campus. I also ask that the points of contact for any release of information regarding SPSU's helpful efforts go through Ann Watson for media and Dr. Lisa Rossbacher for the Board of Regents.

What has been done so far? -SPSU students we know have been affected have been contacted. Students needing assistance as a consequence of Hurricane Katrina should contact Dr. Ron Koger at 678-915-6721 or rkoger@spsu.edu. -Displaced students needing admission should and have been contacting Ms. Gini Head, Director of Admission, at 678-915-5501. -SPSU alumni in the affected area are being contacted to see if SPSU can help them