Helping Hands Descend on Waveland The mission: impossible. The workers: willing. The people: desperate. The town: destroyed. On Thursday, September 29, 2005, a twelve-truck caravan departed from the Statesboro campus of Georgia Southern University with a mission before them: for the next three days members of the Sigma Nu chapter would distribute supplies and help clean up the debris left by Hurricane Katrina in Waveland, Mississippi.

The Waveland community of 7,000, located about 35 miles east of New Orleans, was devastated by Hurricane Katrina when it hit the Gulf Coast several weeks ago. According to an Associated Press article from August 31, "State officials said [Waveland] took a harder hit from the wind and water than any other town along the coast. The storm dragged away nearly every home and business within a half mile of the beach, leaving driveways and walkways to nowhere."

The Sigma Nu chapter learned of the devastation first-hand from one of its own, freshman James Ledford, whose family calls Waveland home. As a result of the damage, they are now living out of a storage room attached to their garage - the only building on their property not completely destroyed by flooding and storm surges. (James Ledford is a member of the fall 2005 pledge class and a legacy. His grandfather, Leo Rainey, was initiated into Sigma Nu in 1944 while attending Emory University.)

When members of the Theta Kappa chapter heard the news, they wanted to help. Generous donations poured in from brothers, friends, and family members. People gave everything from toothbrushes and canned goods to lawn mowers, generators, mailboxes and washing machines. The chapter also collected nearly $6000 in cash donations, including a $1000 contribution from the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. James Owens, Executive Vice President of the Foundation, stated that, "When the chapter decided to take the initiative to extend a helping hand to this community, we wanted

to support their efforts with a financial contribution. As brothers give to the Sigma Nu Disaster Relief Fund they can be assured that their donations will directly support Sigma Nus in need."

The three-day goal of the chapter's trip to Waveland was to unload and distribute the supplies and help clean debris from local streets to facilitate the rebuilding process. While the chapter feels their trip was a success in the initial clean up and rebuilding stages, there remains much to be done. "Almost every family we met had lost loved ones in the disaster," said Wilkes Evans, Commander of the Sigma Nu chapter. "Homes are destroyed and families are slowly trying to rebuild and recover emotionally. There is still great need in Waveland." The chapter is planning a follow up trip in the near future to provide additional aid and deliver supplies.

Wilkes shared that, for many chapter members, the trip to Waveland "was the most rewarding experience of our lives." Candidate Adam Gillkhouse said he found himself thanking Waveland residents. "They couldn't figure out why I would thank them, but I really appreciated the way they shared their experiences with me." To view pictures and read commentary on the chapter's relief efforts please visit: http://www.priceferrell.com/sigmanu.htm.

If you would like to donate to help this or other communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina, you may make a contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation. Please make certain that you earmark these contributions for the "Disaster Relief Fund." Credit card contributions can be given via our secure website.

Wilkes Evans sums up the experience saying, "The brothers of this chapter share the belief that no matter which member is in trouble, we will all respond with every resource that we can muster." Actions speak louder than words - especially in this case.