September 15, 2005

Students raise funds through Hurricane Relief Day

A group of graduate and undergraduate student volunteers raised almost $12,000 through a university-wide effort Sept. 14 for the Red Cross and Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts.

Hurricane Relief Day, according to organizer Thomas Turner, brought together student volunteers from various student groups throughout ASU to sponsor and monitor Donation Stations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ASU Tempe campus. The official total for the day was $11,717.

Turner, a first-year doctoral student in curriculum and instruction, says the decision to put together the event was a simple one.

"I have a great place to live, a warm bed, and a refrigerator full of food,” he says. “I know where my family is. I know where my pets are. I know that they are all alive. Others aren’t so lucky.”

The effort was sanctioned by the ASU Volunteer Center and Red Cross to collect donations from ASU on behalf of students and student organizations. Associated Students of ASU is also supporting the efforts.

"We had more than 35 student organizations involved in this campus-wide relief effort,” says Turner. “In addition, we will hadevery major building – as well as pedestrian walkways – housing Donation Stations.”

Although the crisis has been in the headlines for more than two weeks, Turner is encouraging people to remember that the efforts in the hurricane ravaged region are ongoing. He says that although we may have given once, more is needed.

"When you say to yourself “I am sick of hearing about this; I given everything I am able;” remember all of the people with nothing left,” he says. “While we just see images on the TV screen, the needs are real to everyone in the Gulf States. Not just New Orleans, but the entire states of Louisiana and Mississippi and parts of Florida.”

For more information, contact Turner at katrina.relief@asu.edu.