During spring 2006, the American Marketing Association coordinated the “Gulf States Rebuild Project” to assist New Orleans and the state of Louisiana with hurricane rebuilding efforts. The first phase of the project included a March 17 benefit concert and silent auction to raise money for Rebuilding Together’s hurricane efforts and to cover costs associated with an “Alternative Spring Break.” This was followed by an April 9-16 trip that took more than 30 students and four mentors to Cameron Parish and Lake Charles, Louisiana, to work on hurricane rebuilding efforts. Student Services Division employees Jeane Relleve Caveness and Brett Waterfield served as mentors on the trip.
During 2005-06, the Residence Halls Community Service Committee coordinated a number of opportunities for residents to volunteer in the Long Beach community. Activities included a clothing drive that netted more than $48,000 worth of garments for the Long Beach Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army. An American Red Cross Blood Drive also was held, with more than 50 resident donors. Finally, 35 residence hall students volunteered more than 1,500 hours at the Long Beach Rescue Mission soup kitchen; more than 7,500 meals were served. More than 45 residents also participated in two Saturday beach cleanups, an all-day Long Beach emergency preparedness exercise and the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days and Relay for Life walk/run and marathon activities.
