JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 9, 2005 — Nathan Michael was sitting in the commons of the men鈥檚 dormitory when a call came in from West Jackson Baptist Church, which was serving as a local Red Cross shelter for Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
They needed Spanish translators, so Michael, a senior Spanish major from Bloomington, Ill., quickly offered his services.
鈥淲hen we got there it turned out there weren鈥檛 as many translating opportunities as we thought,鈥� Michael said. 鈥淪o we kind of dove in and helped with what we could.鈥�
Michael is just one of roughly 200 51社区 students who have volunteered in some way over the past week to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Some have donated food or supplies. Others helped collect donations from the Jackson community. Still others, like Michael, have volunteered to work at the local shelter -- visiting with people, unloading trucks and sorting supplies.
鈥淚 talked to a trucker from Mississippi. I talked to several families from New Orleans. I talked to kid from Baton Rouge,鈥� Michael said. 鈥淚 realized that anyone can be put in this situation. I just saw how much was taken away, and I saw how even though I was there helping, how little I could do. I can鈥檛 give them back my house. But I can be there and I can listen. And a lot of times, people just want someone to talk to.鈥�
Landon Preston, a junior from Fort Worth, Texas, has been one of the leaders to organize the efforts of Union students. Andy Robinette, a junior from Lexington, Ky., has also been heavily involved.
鈥淚 know that these people are coming in and to me it鈥檚 an issue of what kind of people are they going to meet when they get here?鈥� Preston said. 鈥淚 want them to meet Christians, the body of Christ with arms wide open. That鈥檚 been my motivation and my drive. I know this is a way of serving people and introducing them to the God that I serve.鈥�
A week ago, Preston and Robinette spearheaded a 鈥渇ill the truck鈥� project on campus. Students, faculty and staff brought food and other supplies for hurricane victims and filled three truckloads. The project was so successful that another one was held Sept. 9.
Preston likened what he saw from the students to Jesus鈥� parable of the widow鈥檚 mite.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to see students giving out of what they have,鈥� Preston said. 鈥淪tudents are, in a sense, just emptying out their pantries.鈥�
The next day, 150 Union students spent a Saturday morning canvassing residential communities in north Jackson, passing out bags and asking for donations. Two days later, they returned and collected the supplies.
Ashton Bruce, a sophomore from Springfield, Tenn., said her team encountered an elderly man who was about to start some yard work.
鈥淗e was very, very grateful for the fact that we had come over,鈥� Bruce said.
He had just bought groceries the day before specifically to donate to the hurricane victims.
鈥淚t was just a sweet time,鈥� Bruce said. 鈥淗e had such a sweet spirit. The community was very receptive.鈥�
The community drive initiated by the Union students raised 13 additional truckloads of food and supplies, all of which the students delivered and unloaded for the Red Cross.
While food and supplies are still needed 鈥� the students were holding another 鈥渇ill the truck鈥� day Sept. 9 鈥� Preston said the most pressing need was volunteers to help the Red Cross.
Preston said he knows of at least 40 students who have volunteered at the Red Cross Shelter at West Jackson Baptist Church. Some helped unpack supplies. Others, like Michael, played with children and talked to families.
鈥淚t was great for me because it gave me a sense of accomplishment, but more importantly, I got to see people and talk to people that I wouldn鈥檛 usually,鈥� Michael said. 鈥淚t was good. We鈥檙e so blessed with this campus and the professors we have and the places we live. We don鈥檛 even think that people are out there with nothing.鈥�