The Student Association is one of many groups at Mississippi State University that has sent aid to the Coast since Katrina hit.
Last weekend marked the second trip to the Coast for the SA. The group of 25 students left the MSU campus Friday and rode in vans provided by the university to the MSU Biloxi Research Center, their home for the weekend.
Once on the Coast, the students split into three teams.
One team traveled to a local Hancock County junior high school and helped set up new classrooms in trailers.
Prior to the SA’s arrival, as many as 70 students were packed into one room with four teachers. The SA volunteers set up shelves in the trailers and installed computers for faculty and students to use.
The other two teams went to the homes of local residents and helped them try to salvage belongings from their homes. They searched through attics and pulled out any furniture or sentimental items that the owners wanted to keep.
“It made me realize just how grateful for everything I am,” SA director of community relations Lori Holland said. “It was very eye- opening.”
During the SA’s first trip to the Coast two weeks ago, one team had to use chainsaws to cut their way into the lot where a resident’s home was located. Once inside, they helped strip outold carpet and remove anything that was salvageable.
Also, during the first trip, student association volunteers helped pass out food at a shelter and worked a Halloween carnival at a local high school.
“It was amazing to see people who had nothing but were still so hospitable and grateful,” SA director of campus outreach J.R. Love said.
Accompanying the SA students on the first trip were MSU interim police chief Georgia Lindley and Sergeant Kenny Rivers.
The second trip was escorted by MSU director of student life Eddie Keith.
Although the SA has already been to the Coast to volunteer twice, the group is making plans for more trips as far into the future as 2006.
Other groups that have sent volunteers to the Coast include the Pre-Veterinary Club and a group of MSU students who attend Starkville’s First Baptist Church.