Holy Cross Community Raises Nearly $20,000 For Hurricane Relief

WORCESTER, Mass. – Money raised by the College of the Holy Cross "Stand By You" relief effort, a coordinated show of financial, physical and spiritual support for the victims of the hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast, totals $19,780 to date, according to the Chaplains’ Office, which is organizing the effort. Reporting the results, director of College Chaplains Katherine McElaney, said members of the Holy Cross community "answered the call with creativity and generosity."

Students, faculty, staff and alumni participated in the effort in a variety of ways, from passing collection buckets at football games to planning fundraisers; from buying "Stand Bayou" T-shirts to participating in prayer vigils. The volunteer and fundraising effort will continue into 2006, as well: the Chaplains’ Office will expand its existing Appalachia Service Program and send approximately 50 students to participate in service opportunities in the Gulf region over spring break.

The money was raised through a variety of ways.

* Collections at weekend Masses, the Sunday Service of Praise and Worship, the homecoming football game and private donations raised about $10,000. * The Relay for Disaster Relief raised $4,601 through its annual relay. * The "Stand Bayou" T-shirt campaign has raised $3,422 so far. * The Student Government Association raised $1,557 through meal donations. * The Class of 2009 raised more than $200 through sales of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. * Students in African-American Literary traditions and the Black Student Union held a 50/50 raffle at Casino Night on Family Weekend to benefit Xavier University, a small, historically African-American, Catholic, liberal arts college in New Orleans.

The proceeds will be divided to respond to three areas of need: assistance to Holy Cross students, their families and alumni from the devastated region who were financially impacted by the hurricanes; Jesuits from the New Orleans Province who are involved in many rebuilding efforts in and need funds to support that work; Loyola University of New Orleans, a sister Jesuit institution, which is committed to meeting its payroll even though the school is shut down at least until January.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area, administrators and faculty moved swiftly to enroll 11 displaced Loyola University students to Holy Cross for the fall semester.

The College has also offered financial assistance to families of Holy Cross students from New Orleans who were severely impacted and provided transportation for students from New Orleans to reunite with their transplanted families over the Columbus Day break.