During Memorial Day weekend, a group of 50 students will skip a long weekend of parties and instead spend time helping people still experiencing the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
The students, working with both Habitat for Humanity and food centers, will leave Thursday, May 27 for New Orleans and return May 31 in time for classes Tuesday.
We just wanted to take our weekend and do something that actually made a difference
said Megan Berthold, a sophomore studying exercise physiology.
The trip as a whole will cost between $11,000 and $14,000, said Michael Korte, an administrative resident assistant in Adams Hall who is organizing the trip. Before fundraising, the cost for each student's attendance is $155.
The students are working with the Residents' Hall Action Council (tRAC) and the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), and the project has received a $1,000 grant from the Residential Housing programming committee.
This is something I have wanted to do personally for five years now Korte said.
Korte was a senior in high school during Hurricane Katrina and was greatly affected by news coverage he viewed of the disaster. He explained that residents of New Orleans are still in need of aid.
So many people are still without homes Korte said. That's a crime.
To fund the trip, students are participating in several fundraising projects. Students in Adams Hall have sold hot dogs and grilled cheese within the dormitory. Groups in other dorms have also sold food, including pancakes. Some have taken out trash in exchange for donations, and Saturday, students sold food at Palmerfest.
I thought it would be a selfless act to benefit the community of New Orleans
said Kyle Thomas, a sophomore studying aviation who participated in selling grilled cheese in Adams Hall.
Yesterday, students created a video to post on YouTube and send to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. Korte added that DeGeneres grew up in the city and her mother still lives there.
Even if DeGeneres is unable to come along, the group hopes she might send financial aid, said volunteer Natalie Myers, a sophomore studying psychology.
I feel
like
a need to hop into these opportunities as they come
Myers said, adding that she felt it will be more difficult for students to participate in similar projects after they graduate and have jobs or are attending graduate school.
The group will also host a ReNew Orleans Benefit Dinner, sponsored by tRAC and NRHH, next week.
Speakers at the event will include professors and administrators who have connections to New Orleans, who had to leave the area because of Hurricane Katrina or have done community service there. Two of the speakers will be Susanne Dietzel, director of the Women's Center, and her husband Dave. Students from the School of Theater and the School of Music will provide entertainment.
The benefit dinner will be at 7 p.m. May 17 at Old Nelson Commons. The cost is $20 per dinner for students, $25 for faculty and staff, and $160 for a table of eight. Ticket information is available by contacting Randy Kitchens at kitchens@ohiou.edu.
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News
Emily Atherton
