2008 Woodie Awards
Disaster shelter helps hundreds
Tiffany Gibson
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
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Over the holiday weekend, evacuees from Louisiana and various affected states arrived at MTSU to stay at the Rec Center on cots. The Red Cross employees and volunteers provided clothing and food for those displaced.
"I am pleased we can provide assistance to reduce the stress and issues these people are dealing with," said President Sidney McPhee. "The Red Cross, faculty and staff, students and other organizations are doing a wonderful job helping."
ARAMARK provided food for the victims on Sunday and Monday.
"We served 350 people for lunch on Sunday and 510 people for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Monday," said Brett Muller, assistant food service director.
In addition to offering food for the evacuees, Muller said several managers and employees working in McCallie Dining Hall assisted in serving meals for the victims.
The Tennessee Baptist Association and First Harvest Food Bank will supply meals for the evacuees throughout their stay.
Student volunteers are also lending a hand with food by contributing food, serving evacuees during meals and answering any questions or concerns evacuees may have about the area.
"These people are in need and they came up here with nothing. They have been pulled from their homes for the second time in three years," said Gary Ferguson, MTSU graduate student and volunteer. "It's important to volunteer and be here for them and make sure their stay is as comfortable as possible. They are our guests."
Ferguson said that volunteers began setting up cots over the holiday weekend in order to prepare for the evacuees' arrivals.
"It was a little shaky at first because we didn't have quite enough blankets, but corporate partners in the community gave us blankets and sheets," Ferguson said.
"It's really great so far, and the student volunteers have been taking good care of me," said Shawn Mason, New Orleans native.
Edgard Izaguirre, junior marketing and public relations major and volunteer, came up with the idea to create math, English, art and story time sessions for the children.
"It breaks my heart knowing that they don't have an education right now," Izaguirre said. "They are just sitting around waiting with their parents, and by having art class, math, writing and story time sessions it will give them a chance to stimulate their minds and help them focus on the key ingredient in life, which is education."
Izaguirre said there will be three sessions every day. At 10 a.m., math and writing will be offered, at 4:30 p.m., arts and crafts will be open, and at 8 p.m., a story time session will be held before the children go to bed.
Community members and numerous organizations such as Alpha Delta Pi, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Tau Omega and the men's rugby team have donated supplies for these sessions and raised funds within the community.
On Thursday, WJXA Mix 92.9 in Nashville will team up with the Red Cross to bring free ice cream samples at 2 p.m. to evacuees.
"I started out serving food, so I got a chance to meet everyone, especially the kids, who are great," said Rachael Charlton, senior political science major. "It's really like a family atmosphere in here with everybody helping each other."
Overall, many evacuees have described MTSU as a clean and quiet environment.
"It's peaceful here," said Quinton Maxwell, Louisiana plumber. "That's the best thing about it; there's no violence around here."
"I don't pray for disaster, but if it were to happen then I would make the best of it. And so far it is really good," said Chutwunelye Okoirie, contractor and Nigeria native. "They are giving me food, clothing and the space is really clean."
Even though evacuees are receiving shelter and care, many of them can't help but worry about their houses enduring the tropical storms.
"I haven't heard anything just yet, but I do know they cut the power off because wires were in the streets and posts were down," Maxwell said. "They did this to avoid anyone from getting electrocuted, so they shut off the power in the whole city."
Mason said that he has been at the Rec. Center for four days, but feels it's too soon to tell right now if his residence in New Orleans is still intact.
"I'm sure they are making sure everything is together before they bring us back down," Mason said. "Plus two more storms are suppose to be coming."
As of now, Dean Flever, spokesperson for Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said that the evacuees in Tennessee are currently in a planning stage and waiting for New Orleans to make an announcement allowing residents to come back.
A volunteer log sheet available in the Rec. Center for any students or community members that want to volunteer their time.
"I know if I needed help in this situation, then I would be really appreciative if people would help me out," Charlton said. "Once I got here and met the people and saw how appreciative and faithful they are, I didn't want to leave."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
D. Gass
posted 9/04/08 @ 6:16 PM CST
In the meantime, MTSU students are unable to use the rec. cente for how long? Evacuees walk around campus drinking 40s and the aroma of pot is in the air. (Continued…)
Barry Kidd
posted 9/08/08 @ 9:34 PM CST
I am all for helping people, but they put the paying students of this campus at risk when they brought those morons here. Several ended up in jail, and I know of at elast one student who was threatened by one of these idiots. (Continued…)
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