By Rebecca Wyatt, OU Web Writer

“Oakland University Cares and Shares,” a fund-raiser for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, raised $3,034.26 to be given to the Salvation Army for hurricane relief efforts. The OU community pledged its support through a phone-a-thon, in person donation, or by donating loose change to the Salvation Army kettle in the Oakland Center.

Students staffed the donation center in the Oakland Center Fireside Lounge on Sept. 9, where students, faculty and staff could drop off monetary donations or call in to the phone bank.

The donation center staff was joined by members of the Salvation Army throughout the day who recognized their good work. They also were visited by a woman who lost almost everything in the hurricane, but has now made it her job to help other victims.

Alicia Cool of Bay St. Louis, Miss., stopped by to lend her support. Along with her mother-in-law and three children, Cool evacuated shortly before the hurricane destroyed their home and their town. With three days worth of clothes and a pair of flip-flops, the family finally made it to West Bloomfield to stay with relatives.

“I feel so blessed to be here and for all the help I’ve already gotten that I owe it to my community to help others,” Cool said. 

Cool’s husband is still in Bay St. Louis trying to help salvage the town, but for now Cool, her mother-in-law and her children will stay in Michigan.

“There is nothing to go back to right now. My house is not livable. It’s fixable, but it’s not livable,” Cool said. “And there are no jobs. Right now my job is helping the other people in community through relief efforts like this.”

The fund-raiser was just one way the OU community has demonstrated its support for the hurricane victims. Students displaced by the hurricane were admitted to OU on scholarships for the fall semester. And, this week, Delta Sigma Theta is holding a collection for items needed by the more than 200 evacuees staying at the Ramada Inn in Southfield. Items can be dropped of at any Delta Sigma Theta event or at the Center for Student Activities, Oakland Center Room 49. For more information, e-mail cryoungb@oakland.edu.

For more information on how Oakland University is helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina, visit OU’s Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort Web page.