USC students show support for those affected by Hurricane Sandy destruction
Hurricane Sandy may seem like a foreign disaster, but its destruction is affecting many students at USC.
Spencer Nelson, a second-year business management student, recalls the moment when he discovered that his friend’s house had burned down.
“[She and her family] ... only got out about 15 minutes before their house went up in flames,” Nelson said.
His friend’s house was one of many in Breezy Point, a beachfront neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, that burned down during the storm. Nelson lives in Rockaway, a neighborhood located a few miles down the road.
“When I found out that her house had burnt down, I just felt so helpless,” Nelson said.
Like Nelson, many other USC students have close ties to family and friends who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.
“Thirty-five percent of students here at Carolina are out-of-state,” Nelson said. “New Jersey, which was the worst hit, is the fifth-largest feeder state to our university. What breaks my heart is that Thanksgiving is coming up ... and now a lot of students do not have homes to go back to.”
The American Red Cross is working around the clock to support those in need of disaster relief, many of whom are still sleeping in shelters.
Courtney Melendez, a major gifts officer for the American Red Cross, is working closely with Nelson on his fundraising efforts at USC. According to Melendez, more than 3,300 Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the Northeast, 40 of whom are from Columbia.
“Even though we’re 700 miles away from this storm, we still have ties up there,” Melendez said.
In addition to those volunteers, the American Red Cross deployed more than 250 emergency response vehicles, 30 trailers of bulk distribution items and 12 mobile kitchens with the capacity to cook 200,000 meals.
“The most heart-wrenching thing is that we’re just starting to see how bad it really is,” Melendez said.
Nelson is working with the American Red Cross and various organizations on campus to raise awareness for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Together they have created the “Gamecocks Sandstorm for Sandy,” a fundraiser that will raise money for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The event will be held today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of Russell House and will accept cash donations and Carolina Cash.
In addition to accepting donations, “Gamecocks Sandstorm for Sandy” will feature posters for individuals to sign and show their support. These posters will be displayed in the Mason Jar, a restaurant in New York City owned by a USC alumnus, which, along with rest of Lower Manhattan, is currently without power.
“Everyone in the Tri-State area goes (there) to watch the game on football weekends,” Nelson said fondly.
Nelson has also developed a Gamecock themed microsite with the American Red Cross that is currently accepting donations by credit and debit card and Carolina Card.
The donations will go to further support the Disaster Relief Fund. The site should became operational Thursday evening.
“It’s important that we stand by our fellow Gamecocks here and show our support,” Nelson said.