Even in the wake of devastation on the scale of that left by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the response of one person can make a difference. Individually and together, InterVarsity students on campuses across the country have been responding with prayer and action. This story comes from Ely, an InterVarsity student at the University of Evansville, in Indiana.
I heard about the truck going down to Mississippi, and I hesitated when Esther, our campus staff, asked me if I could gather some of the students to ask for more donations around the dorms. I really doubted people would contribute if I put them on the spot. I even doubted our own students would give much in a late afternoon spurt of donations from our little campus store.
However, the whole operation turned out to be a blessing. Even international students, with very little connection to New Orleans or our campus ministry, were willing to give whatever they had available. I was amazed at the amount of items we were able to gather in such a short time. It was truly encouraging to see there were lots of little efforts like mine matched around campus and in the community to add to our grain of sand in the relief effort.
In the weeks and months ahead, InterVarsity will be doing more to help with the recovery of the Gulf State region devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Randy White, InterVarsity’s National Coordinator of Urban Projects, is working with New Orleans campus staff member Myron Crockett, Deep South area director Chris Klingenfus, and Southeast associate regional director Tony Warner, to develop partnerships with ministries working in the area, such as Convoy of Hope, Trinity Christian Community, Voice of Calvary, Urban Impact, and Desire Street Ministries.
InterVarsity has established a special account, the Gulf Coast Fund, to aid InterVarsity staff and student work in this area. You may contribute by going to https://www.intervarsity.org/donate/ and clicking on “Student work in the Gulf Coast.”
Previous stories related to Katrina:
Hurricane Disrupts, Intensifies Ministry
Gulf Coast Fund Established
Recovering from Katrina
