HU Students Give to Tornado Victims

Hampton, VA - As they pack their clothes and head home for summer break, some Hampton University students are dropping parts of their wardrobe in bins for "The Hampton Big Give Clothing Drive."

The HU Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored a relief drive to help Suffolk, Va. residents impacted by the April 28 tornado. On May 2, the Virginian-Pilot reported the storm caused an estimated $28.6 million in damage. Outside of Suffolk, Va., located less than an hour from Hampton, Va., Carrsville, Colonial Heights, Brunswick, Gloucester, Halifax, Matthews and Surry counties were also touched by the windstorm, the article said.

When HU President Dr. William R. Harvey called upon the school's SGA to coordinate something, they were more than happy to act, HU SGA Vice President Nandi Shareef said.

"We wanted to give back to our brothers and sisters just a few miles away," Shareef said. "From August to May clothing styles have changed so much. Everyone is packing up and putting stuff in storage, so this is a good time to donate some of those things."

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 1 and May 2, students, faculty and staff were encouraged to donate not only gently used clothes and shoes, but toiletries, linens and non-perishable food items. By 1 p.m. May 2, bags of clothes and shoes, and stacks of toiletries and personal hygiene products lined a back wall in the student activities office. That same day, Shareef placed bins inside the campus' freshman dorms, as well.

Once the school year is over and students have relocated to their summer destinations or begun their careers, HU leaders are hopeful their concern will still be felt.

"They (victims) will continue to be in our prayers," Shareef said. "And, although this isn't much, we want them to know that HU cares."

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