In order to raise money for D'Iberville Middle School, students at the College will hold a wealth of aid-oriented events and opportunities during Homecoming Weekend and Family Weekend. Volunteers will not only table at all games, but will also collect donations and distribute information.
Students will sell purple wristbands bearing the slogan "Amherst and D'Iberville: Rebuilding Together." The wristbands, analogous to Lance Armstrong's "Live Strong" brand, will be sold for $3 a piece, and proceeds will directly benefit the hurricane relief effort.
At Homecoming, those attending the game may also purchase half-time raffle tickets, donate money to have their picture taken with the Lord Jeff mascot and donate school supplies.
Led by Jessica Rothschild '06, Molibi Maphanyane '06 and Erika Sams '08, under the guidance of Area Coordinator Pam Stawasz and Outreach Coordinator Scott Laidlaw, the College's Katrina aid group has been at work for several weeks now and is prepared to pursue as many venues as necessary to ensure a strong contribution.
Rothschild viewed the upcoming weekend as an especially opportune time to bolster Katrina aid. "I'm really excited about Homecoming weekend, as we hope to raise a lot of money for D'Iberville Middle School," she said. "This weekend should be a culmination of many of the plans we've been working on over the past several weeks."
Located in southern Mississippi, D'Iberville Middle School was the worst hit in the state's Harrison County School district, where water levels rose up to eight feet in certain areas, heavily damaging the school and forcing students to temporarily relocate to D'Iberville's elementary school. Since a majority of D'Iberville students have lost their homes to the hurricane, aid is direly needed.
In addition to sponsoring the middle school, efforts are also underway to encourage the town of Amherst to support D'Iberville in tandem with the College.
Charity auctions for parking spaces on the College's tennis court are also scheduled to take place, as well as a donation from Reader-to-Reader, a non-profit organization which ships much-needed books to disadvantaged school libraries across the nation. The program, which operates out of the basement of the Cadigan Center, plans to ship an estimated 200,000 books to schools that have been affected by Katrina.
A Tennessee native, Rothschild explained her personal impetus to assist with the effort. "I personally became involved in these efforts because I am from the South, and there aren't that many Southerners at the College," she explained. "The remnants of the storm raged through Memphis, where I'm from, and I can't even imagine what it must have been like farther south."
Rothschild said that she felt especially connected to the relief project that is working to provide school supplies for elementary school children who have been affected by Katrina. "I also find it very rewarding and fulfilling to be able to lend my assistance to innocent school children in Mississippi ... Without our assistance [they] probably won't have the resources to attend their school next fall," she said.
Despite students' efforts, outreach plans have been complicated by obstacles. A car wash intended to benefit hurricane victims, for example, was cancelled due to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations prohibiting such activities in light of Amherst's widespread construction.
However, certain projects are still underway. Scheduled events include a Five College art sale, the sponsorship of an envoy of Amherst students to go to Mississippi in order to aid in rebuilding efforts.
There will also be a Louisiana Banquet sponsored by Drew House to take place on Oct. 29. Rothschild urged students interested in helping to plan the banquet to contact Keyonte Sutherland '07.
To date, the College's Katrina relief Web site reports that students have already donated $1,100 to the effort. Additionally, 104 packets of school supplies are currently en route to Louisiana and Mississippi communities through student involvement in an effort organized by Pastors for Peace.
Rothschild hopes that the new and varied fundraising efforts will encourage students and other supporters to remain dedicated to the relief cause. "At first, College response was overwhelming, and it was extremely encouraging," she commented. "I just hope that the support isn't waning."
For students, clubs and organizations interested in Amherst Katrina aid, there will be a meeting tonight at 9:30 p.m. in the second-floor common room of Moore Dormitory.
More information is available on the College's Katrina aid Web site at: http://www.amherst.edu/katrina/.