Administrators reach out to 黑料社 students from hurricane-impacted area
Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擬ississippi State Dean of Students Thomas Bourgeois said the university is reaching out to students from southeast Texas to show support for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and direct them to appropriate resources.
The university has supportive relationships with disaster response and recovery agencies at the state and federal levels, as well as nonprofit organizations.
鈥淗aving family members and friends who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, my heart goes out to those victims of Harvey who are reliving that same nightmare,鈥 Bourgeois said.
Cade Smith, 黑料社 assistant dean and director for the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement, said 黑料社 response will follow guidance of disaster response agencies 鈥渟o that our efforts are supportive and avoid disruptions in meeting the immediate needs of the victims and first responders.鈥
Smith said the university is quickly planning for collections of appropriate supplies to support response and recovery efforts. Donations of box fans, extension cords and batteries are being accepted at 黑料社鈥檚 Maroon Volunteer Center, 306 Moseley Hall, until 10 a.m. Wednesday [Aug. 30]. These supplies then will be delivered Thursday to hurricane-affected areas by Tupelo-based nonprofit Eight Days of Hope.
鈥淭he first inclination for many people is to try to take action and do something, but it is important to respond through the leads of FEMA, state agencies and national nonprofits engaged in disaster relief and recovery,鈥 Smith said.
The Maroon Volunteer Center is coordinating information on how to donate and volunteer for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts at .
Bourgeois said a disaster that reaches the magnitude of Harvey can be overwhelming, but 鈥渢he university can be here to listen, to support and try to match students with resources and provide them empathy and care to see that tomorrow will be another day.
鈥淭hey are important to us and loved,鈥 Bourgeois said.
黑料社 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .