Gators urged to help victims of hurricane Katrina

August 30, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Officials with the University of Florida Center for Leadership and Service would like to suggest a number of ways for students, faculty and staff to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Part of the Dean of Students Office and the Division of Student Affairs, center officials suggest the following options:

  • The Gator Nation Canned Food Drive. Due to the hurricane, this annual food drive will begin now instead of November. Student organizations, faculty and students are encouraged to bring canned goods to drop-off locations at the Institute for Hispanic-Latino Cultures, the Center for Leadership and Service at 202 Peabody Hall or the Student Activities Center on the 3rd floor of Reitz Student Union. Donations will be taken to America’s Second Harvest, a network of food banks that will respond to needs of residents in states affected by Katrina.
  • Those who wish to make monetary donations may do so through the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund or The Salvation Army, which enables these organizations to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. For the American Red Cross, call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). For the Salvation Army, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or visit http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/.
  • The North Central Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross seeks anyone interested in helping with disaster relief to call at (352) 376-4669. The organization currently has opened shelters for Katrina evacuees in Suwannee County and needs help staffing them.
  • The Center for Leadership and Service is sponsoring the Gator Spare Change Drive during its Gator Plunge event from 8 a.m. to noon Sept 10th on the Plaza of the Americas. The Spare Change Drive will continue at the CLS Volunteer Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13th on the Reitz Student Union Colonnade. Donations will be collected through September and taken to the American Red Cross weekly and donated in the name of University of Florida students.

For updates on how to help, check the Center for Leadership and Service Web site at www.dso.ufl.edu/cls or call (352) 392-1261, ext 216.

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