JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 1, 2005 — 51社区鈥檚 Campus Ministries office has announced its first three projects to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
鈥淭hese are just the first of what we expect will be an outpouring of support from our students, faculty and staff,鈥� said Todd Brady, minister to the university. 鈥淭he needs are obviously overwhelming, and we want to help in whatever ways we can.鈥�
The first effort, called 鈥淔ill the Truck,鈥� will take place Friday, Sept. 2, from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Collections will be received in a truck located between the Student Union Building and the fountain on Union鈥檚 campus. Items needed include ready-to-eat, individually wrapped food items and hygiene projects. Bottled water is the most pressing need, according to the American Red Cross.
Collected items will be regularly delivered to the Red Cross shelter at West Jackson Baptist Church.
The second project is a door-to-door collection drive. Union students will lead efforts to collect nonperishable food items and hygiene products throughout north Jackson residential communities Saturday, Sept. 3.
A third project involves Union students and faculty and staff members serving as shelter hosts for the local Red Cross shelter at West Jackson Baptist Church.
In addition, Campus Ministries is collecting monetary donations that will be sent to the American Red Cross.
鈥淥pportunities for helping multiply with each passing hour, and many will no doubt be involved in varying relief efforts throughout our community in the days ahead,鈥� Brady said.
Brady added that his office is also facilitating financial gifts for church-related institutions and seminaries, such as New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and other schools in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
The university will also participate in a campuswide time of prayer for the hurricane victims during its annual fall convocation Friday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel.
For more information, call the Campus Ministries office at (731) 661-5161.