After four years of lending a helping hand to those affected by Hurricane Katrina, The Wooster Volunteer Network will be venturing south of the United States to give more support this year for the fifth time.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina became one of the sixth most deadly hurricanes to cross the Atlantic and over The United States. By taking many lives and destroying a lot of property, this destructive hurricane left its mark mainly in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. This forced many displaced residents to call the remnants and trailers ëhome.í
WVN is given the privilege to send a group of student to the Gulf area to continue their tradition with the company of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Leah Briston í10 is the groupís organizer for the trip this year. ìI have been able to designate different jobs to every member of the group such as collecting money, getting directions and organizing fundraising events,” said Briston.
During the first week of Winter Break, the group will head to New Orleans. ìOther times, we have gone to more rural areas in Mississippi. This is the third year I will be going down there. The two previous years I have gone, Iíve been amazed at how much work still needs to be done and how some people still do not have their homes even close to being restored,” said Briston.
Having a group of young philanthropists travel to another state is both time consuming and costly. ìWe do get a large amount of funding from WVN,” said Briston. The group has a fee that they have to pay for their room and board, as well as car rentals and gas. WVN will be fundraising primarily to cut down costs for the necessary expenses that the members may not be able to afford for this trip. They will try to raise money for tools and equipment to build the different houses. ìWe hope that with the money we fundraise,” said Briston, ìwe will be able to purchase some building materials for the families that we will be working for.”
The first fundraising event they will be sponsoring is a night at Omahoma Bobís BBQ in Downtown Wooster. Camille Guthrie, a worker at the restaurant, made this fundraising opportunity available. WVN will receive a portion of the total amount of money earned that night to help fund their trip. ìIn return we will be busing tables, washing dishes, doing anything the restaurant needs us to do to help,” said Briston.
The fundraiser will be held this Saturday, Nov. 14. The Wooster Volunteer wishes that students, staff and faculty alike will be able to attend their Omahoma Bobís BBQ fundraiser for some great food and to help support our trip to aid others in need.