This article is from the EMU News Archive. Current EMU new is available at www.emu.edu/news

Fund Drive Launched for Hurricane Response

Rachel Sims (l.) and Jeneé High announce the student- initiated fund drive to aid victims of the Gulf States flooding.
Photo by Jim Bishop

A campus-wide fund drive to aid victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in the Gulf States region was launched during a chapel service Friday, Sept. 9, at Eastern Mennonite University.

Rachel A. Sims and Jeneé L. High, co-presidents of the Young People's Christian Association (YPCA), a Christian service and outreach organization at EMU, invited students, faculty and staff to contribute to the appeal.

"This is one of many ways the EMU community can respond to this urgent need," Ms. High said, noting that discussions are also under way for persons to become part of organized relief teams, possibly during mid-semester break and Christmas vacation.

Buckets are being placed at various locations around campus for contributions. The drive has an initial goal of $2,000, but the appeal "will likely continue through the fall semester," High said.

"If every student gave at least one dollar and every faculty and staff person gave five dollars, we'd easily reach our goal," Ms. Sims told the chapel assembly.

The funds raised will be sent to Mennonite Central Committee, Akron, Pa., earmarked for Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) work in response to the natural disaster.

Read more about EMU's response to Hurricane Katrina and ways that you can help...

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted September 9, 2005