Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have wreaked havoc on much of the southern states, and though Capital is unaffected, many staff and students are leading efforts to aid those affected most by these storms.
Professor Paige Shalter Bruening is working with Capital University Education Society (CUES), a social and professional organization for those who have a passion for education, to donate school supplies and personal care items to a teacher whose school was hit by Hurricane Harvey.
Bruening saw a call on Facebook with the Teacher to Teacher organization, which paired up teachers to help donate supplies for students and the classroom affected by the hurricane. Bruening signed up because she had previously been in a situation much like many teachers in Texas find themselves in now.
“I taught in South Carolina after Hurricane Katrina, so I had lots and lots of students who were relocated, and I saw how difficult it was for them to not have any supplies even though they were coming to brand new schools,” Bruening said. “They had nothing to bring with them. So, it was really through the generosity of others that students would donate things to me … that they could use.”
Bruening was paired with a teacher at Shadow Creek High School, in Pearland, Texas. This teacher has a class of 12 special needs students. Supplies like crayons, colored pencils, paper, and pencils can be donated through Bruening, in rooms 231 and 227 in the Ruff Learning Center, or through CUES. The deadline for items is this coming Friday, Sept. 22, 2017.
Bruening has also begun the same process of offering assistance to a school in Puerto Rico following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Because the paths of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma affected various parts of the country, Bruening is interested in helping those in Florida or the Caribbean as well. If there are not efforts similar to the Teacher to Teacher program, Bruening has personal connections in Florida and intends to lend help there as well.
Another Capital student organization getting involved with hurricane relief is the Phi Beta Professional Arts Fraternity, who is hosting a campus- and Bexley-wide talent show to raise proceeds for hurricane victims, which will be hosted by President Beth Paul. The date is yet to be determined, but will likely be in October.
“The best way students and faculty can help our efforts is to compete in the show,” Phi Beta member Jackie Richardson said.
As well as an entrance fee for those participating, donations will be collected, and baked goods will be sold to raise funds.
“I wanted to help with hurricane efforts but I didn’t really know how,” Richardson said. “Ultimately I made the decision to help after watching a video about how cash donations are best.”
The Phi Beta Professional Arts Fraternity has a chapter in Houston, which led to the involvement of this chapter.
For those who wish to help in other ways, other organizations local in Houston are the Greater Houston Community Foundation and the Houston Food Bank.
Additionally, organizations like Volunteer Florida and Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville are helping Hurricane Irma victims. The Caribbean Islands were also greatly affected by these tropical storms, so the Antiga and Barbuda Red Cross and BVI Recovery Fund are also in need.
National organizations assisting these regions are the Samaritan’s Purse, Red Cross, and UNICEF.
