By Kasey Ricketts, communications assistant, Office of University Communications
Hurricanes Irma and Harvey mark the first time in U.S. history two Atlantic Category 4 landfalls have occurred in the same year. The two hurricanes have caused over approximately 200 billion dollars in damages to Texas and Florida.
Campbellsville University, AutoSmart in Campbellsville, Sports Reach and The Big Dawg have partnered up to get involved and help those who have been affected by the hurricanes by asking for donation of cases of water.
“There will be a tractor and trailer sitting out on Stapp Lawn now until Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. that anyone can come to and donate at. Or they can stop by AutoSmart and drop off water there too,” Pete Hedgepath, Bass Fishing Team coach, said.
By the second day 6 pallets of water had already been donated and 8,500 dollars received as well.
“What’s so touching to me is to see everybody’s hearts so open to helping other people in other parts of the country that have been devastated by these storms,” Hedgepath said.
To boost donations, Pioneer College Caterers has agreed to match all student donations – a case for a case.
“Campbellsville University and AutoSmart were doing a great job getting the word out, so we decided to try to support student donations. When we were first contacted about this, we decided to just simply donate, but then
we tried to think of a way to get even more involvement and donations and that is when we decided to do the matching,” Johnathan Craven, Food Service Director, said.
“All they have to do is tweet a picture of them with their donation of water and tag our twitter account @CU_dining and use the hashtag #harveystorm,” Craven said.
“As of now, the contacts we have in Texas are not in need of water, which is a good sign. Now we are concentrating on sending water to Florida and even have been contacted by groups in the Bahamas to provide water there as well,” Hedgepath said.
Tax deductible donation can be made at AutoSmart in Campbellsville and checks payable to “Sports Reach Ministry”
Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 5,000 students offering over 80 programs of study including 19 master’s degrees, six postgraduate areas and seven pre-professional programs. The university has off-campus centers in Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset and Hodgenville with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro, and Summersville and a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.