Jaguar Nation Offers Support and Donations for Harvey Relief Efforts

Houstonians and south west gulf residents face a long road to recovery for potentially one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, with an estimated $190 billion in damages according to AccuWeather from an USA Today report.
Flood waters have begun to subside in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas as Hurricane Harvey volunteer and relief efforts ramp up.
Southern University System Foundation and the Jaguar Nation are doing their part to assist relief efforts for those affected by Harvey.
Nonperishable items such as bottled water, diapers, and personal hygiene care products were being accepted as donations at the F.G. Clark Activity Center of Southern’s Baton Rouge campus from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., August 31st, September 1st and September 5th.
Donations of nonperishable items are being accepted at Southern University at New Orleans as well, in the SUNO Conference Center Thursday, August 31st, Friday, September 1st and Tuesday, September 5th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Southern University Shreveport also collected donations on both the main campus and metro center on August 31st up until September 3rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. according to Southern University’s official website.
“We’re working to reach out to our Alumni Chapter that is in Houston, Texas. They have a very large chapter, probably the largest concentration of alums outside of Louisiana. Also our Alumni Director Derrick Warren is working with both our Houston and Dallas Chapters to help stage some of the giving of the items. We’re looking at Dallas and Houston to really help facilitate all of this,” says Director of Alumni Affairs, Robyn Merrick.
Houston area Southern Alums, “have been extremely engaged in helping one another and that was the immediate response. As you guys know whenever these things, when you can get back to your home the first thing you want to do is get started with the recovery as soon as possible. So we have had people volunteering to help one another and volunteering in our community. We have folks that are in the distribution centers, helping their churches and other organizations. The response not just from the Southern Alumns but from the entire Houston community has been one of unity and support,” says President of the Houston Alumni Chapter, Pamela Jackson.
“We are coordinating and I don’t believe the shipment has left yet, I believe they probably now are waiting until things stabilize a little bit more especially with Irma going on…If anyone is bringing items I’m sure we are still collecting,” says Executive Director of Southern University Alumni Federation, Derrick Warren.
Contributions can be made to the 2017 Texas Flood Fund website set up by the SU System Foundation to directly support Hurricane Harvey flood victims.
A link to the flood fund can be found on Southern’s official website.
“Southern is doing an amazing job with what they’re doing and I feel we need more universities like this…” says freshman Khidhr Mustafa from Baton Rouge, LA.
“I like how they’ve contributed to it. It’s real good to see a black historical college contribute to things most colleges won’t look at.” says freshman Catlin James from Mansfeild, LA.
By the time Tropical Storm Harvey reached landfall in Rockport, Texas, Friday, August 25th, it had become a category four hurricane. Devastating winds and heavy rainfall resulted in the catastrophic flooding of Houston, Texas as well as other surrounding Gulf Coast communities.
With Southern University students and faculty having experienced its own catastrophic flooding in Baton Rouge last year around this time, SU Jags around the world, current and past, look to offer assistance for all those affected by Harvey in Texas and the Gulf regions.
SU continues to monitor and assess any needs of students and families affected by Harvey at this time.