Hurricane Harvey, a category three hurricane, hit Houston, Texas on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. Some Waynesburg University alumni were impacted, including a Board of Trustees member. Waynesburg’s faculty and staff immediately responded to this natural disaster by searching for a way to help.

Kelley Hardie, assistant dean of student services, has been working with students and faculty to start raising money and developing a plan for a service trip. Hardie said in the next few days, there will be a student initiated fundraiser to bring awareness of the hurricane.

Hardie talked to a student who came to her about developing a fund for those affected. Those donations will be sent to a Christian International Relief Organization known as Samaritan’s Purse.

“I am working with a student that is enrolled in a leadership class here on campus that wants to do a donation collection of moneys to send to Samaritan’s Purse so they can use that in their relief efforts currently and that is going to happen within the next few days,” said Hardie.

Kristen Stone, network analyst, contacted Hardie about information on how to reach Samaritan’s Purse. Hardie then began to get in contact to try and initiate a service trip through their program,
“We have had several faculties, staff and students express an interest in forming a service trip,” said Hardie.

Hardie planned to set up a meeting and discuss opportunities with the Board of Trustees member about volunteering at their local church in addition to a separate service trip. Waynesburg students and staff are not alone on wanting to serve and reach out to those in Houston. Hardie said the service trip is on hold until further notice from Samaritan’s Purse.

“Currently right now, they are being saturated with individuals, groups that want to volunteer and currently only professional crew are permitted to serve in Texas, so my hope is that we can be able to form a trip either this winter or spring break,” said Hardie, “Right now we have done everything we could possibly to form a trip, we’re just waiting on the green light with Samaritan’s Purse,” said Hardie.