A week after the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., many Americans are turning to the American Red Cross to provide help, encouragement and volunteer relief. These expectations are no different in central Ohio, and they are being met with surpassing support.
According to Shelley Sprang, communications specialist for the Red Cross of Greater Columbus, many Columbus residents, including Ohio State students, have been more than eager to lend a helping hand.
“The outpouring of support by Columbus-area residents, businesses and students has been overwhelming. Everyone wants to help in some way,” she said.
The Red Cross has also provided overwhelming support. In Ohio, 72 disaster relief workers have been sent to New York and Pennsylvania, eight Emergency Response Vehicles were deployed to relief operations, and many more trained disaster workers from the state are prepared to respond if they are needed.
“This is a long-term Red Cross response, and assistance will be necessary for several months and even years. The American Red Cross is still providing assistance for families affected by the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, and catastrophes (of last week) are expected to require a relief effort of even larger proportions,” Sprang said.
Although Sprang mentioned she is not aware of any upcoming events being planned on the OSU campus, she assures there are still ways for students to get involved. Blood will be needed in the upcoming weeks and months, to replenish Ohio’s supply, and volunteers are always needed.
Students who would like to make an appointment to give blood should call 1-800-Give-Life, or to make a financial donation, they can call 1-800-Help-Now. Students can also sign up to be a Red Cross volunteer by calling 253-2740, extension 2355.
Undergraduate Student Government is also planning to raise money for the cause in the form of white ribbons. The ribbons will be available throughout the week at various Welcome Week events, and will sell for $1.
According to Sarah Topy, chief of staff for USG, many OSU students, including the greek community, the Mount Leadership Society and the Ohio State Welcome Leaders, or OWLS, spent hours making the ribbons and are still looking for more volunteers to help sell them. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross.
These ribbons will also be on sale at the candlelight vigil to be held tomorrow on the Oval.
“We decided to organize this because everyone in America is grieving in their own way and we wanted to provide an outlet for people to come together and remember together,” Topy said.
“We’re dealing with an unprecedented situation right now and students will have a hard enough time leaving home and being on their own. It is crucial that we begin building a sense of community here immediately,” she said.
USG is also sponsoring a “time-out” tent on the Oval, which will be there throughout the week. Students can meet with grief counselors and talk about any anxieties they may have.
