TWU Responds to Katrina

Current Efforts/Ongoing Efforts at TWU

On September 13, 2005, Regina Michael Campbell, faculty member in School of Occupational Therapy (Dallas Presbyterian) was interviewed by channel 4 Fox news while attending a Red Cross Volunteer Training Program. Campbell wanted to attend the volunteer training to personally serve the immediate needs of those impacted by Katrina and to better direct her students’ educational experience. As part of her faculty work load, Campbell teaches in the Fall semester, OT 5161 Adaptation within the Community. OT 5161 Adaptation in the Community is a first semester graduate occupational therapy course. Students as part of their course requirements elect a 25 hour service learning placement at a community agency in Dallas area. Six of the 31 first occupational therapy students have elected to complete their service learning course requirements at the Red Cross. The remaining students have elected one of 11 other Dallas community and social service agencies that will be not only be meeting the health needs of Dallas residents but also extending their already existing services to meet the needs of those displaced by Katrina.

On Sept. 6, 2005, 54 Senior II students from the Dallas campus attended the meeting of the Dallas Chapter AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses) and brought canned food items for Katrina Hurricane Relief.

Nursing 4614 (The Nursing Experience with Communities) course on the Dallas campus (instructors and students) will be volunteering at Reunion Arena in Dallas on several dates in September and October.

Eta Sigma Gamma (ESG) will be hosting a school supply drive for the children who have evacuated from the gulf coast region becaue of Katrina and are now attending school in the metroplex. This drive will be held September 19-23. Please donate your items to the designated box located on the 10th floor of the CFO, starting September 19th. ESG is very excited to be able to do our part in assisting the families displaced by Katrina. If you have any questions, feel free to email esg_twu@yahoo.com.

Alpha Theta Omega will be sponsoring a teddy bear drive beginning on September 12 for the children effected by Hurricane Katrina. Please donate a new or gently used teddy bear to be distributed throughout Denton and surrounding areas. Contact person is Kyla Deaton (deatonk@mail.twu.edu or 940-271-6810).

We know that many of you have already made donations to Hurricane Katrina victims, but we hope you will find it in your hearts to help a little more. The Department of Health Studies partners with the Wesley-Rankin Community Center in Dallas. This Center will be serving as a Phase 2 shelter, one which will house and feed individuals until they find jobs and homes in Dallas. Wesley-Rankin has a staff of 8, and they will be serving 50 people for the long term. They need food, clothing and school supplies. Please bring your donations to the Department of Health Studies, and we will take them directly to Wesley-Rankin. The Center will also need volunteers beginning next week! If interested, please give us a call after next Wednesday, September 14, and we will put you on the sign-up list for volunteering (Ext. 2843).

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Chi Delta Chapter and the Multicultural Student Network are collecting the following items: bed items, towels, shoes, crayons, coloring books and monetary donations. Donation boxes are located in the Student Union and items will be donated to benefit those in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The donation boxes will be available September 6-16. For more information, contact Shay Cooper at (940) 367-9651.

Student Health Services, Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) and the American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive on September 12 - 15 at the Student Union 207 from 10 a.m. ¬ 3 p.m. To schedule your appointment online, visit www.givelife.org and type "Texas Womans" in the search option or call 8-1-3833. For donation on September 12th, we will have a mobile van in the visitor parking lot for the faculty and staff. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to e-mail us at healtheducation@mail.twu.edu.

Curatio Club is hosting a box food drive in the Student Union Sept. 6-16, 2005. For more information, please contact Chidindu Enwere at cenwere@hotmail.com. 

TWU will waive out-of-state tuition for displaced Katrina enrollees. We have placed a link from the TWU Homepage to provide admissions, financial aid, and housing information for these students; this information is located at http://www.twu.edu/admissions/katrina.htm. Please continue to refer these inquiries to the Admissions Office.

Pioneers Join Hurricane Relief Efforts

The Texas Woman’s University Athletics department is joining the relief effort for victims of Hurricane Katrina. On Wednesday, September 7, Pioneer staff and student-athletes will be in the heart of campus on Administration Drive and Bell Avenue with American Red Cross cans to accept donations. The Pioneers will be collecting from 7 – 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 – 6 p.m. Also all proceeds from the Pioneers’ 4:30 p.m. volleyball match on Sept. 10 against Ouachita Baptist will go to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief. Proceeds from ticket sales, concessions and “GO TWU PIONEERS” spirit wristbands sales will be contributed. The student-athletes and fans will receive red, white and blue ribbons to wear in support as well.

Volunteers Needed

The George R. Brown Convention Center is community health at its finest. We were warmly received by the Scribbs charge nurse (a Scribbs group, from San Diego, CA, came to relieve the UT group and to learn about state of the art disaster health care). The Medical Director, (MDO), could not thank me enough for bringing students and bent over backwards to make sure the students had wonderful learning experiences. Four other clinical groups from senior II were there – two in the morning with Mary McGowan and Anna Banford, two in the afternoon with Rita Delastritta and Nena Bonuele. An entire city has been set up in the convention center.

Experiences are to be had from, immunizations, vision and hearing screening, triage, intake, discharge, pediatrics, ob, adult, isolation, psych/mental health. The students learned how a disaster shelter can be set up to accommodate thousands of people to include not only health care but living arrangements, such as food, beds, cleanliness of environment, laundry, showers, bathrooms, clothing, school for children, transportation, and the list could go on.

I believe every student on the Houston campus should have this experience and it is very easy to do. Free parking is provided and they even fed our students. Elda Ramirez, one of our PhD students, will arrange times for you to take your students. Even if the large convention center closes down there are numerous clinics throughout the community that will continue to need assistance. Elda’s e-mail is: Elda.G.Ramirez@uth.tmc.edu. Arrive North side GRB on Rusk St. Sign in and find the charge nurse. The charge nurse will give you your assignment. Students will sign in and get a badge. Licensed people will show proof of licensure.

As the days pass since the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, there is still a need for your support. AWHONN's 2005 President, Beverly Deaton, MSN, RN, calls on AWHONN nurses to step out in support of the relief efforts, at http://www.awhonn.org. Here you will also find information on relief efforts, volunteer opportunities for nurses and other resources.

In addition, the American Red Cross wants nurses to know that there are many ways to contribute to the Hurricane Katrina disaster response effort. Nurses do not have to leave their own communities to help out with this devastating event. Local chapters of the American Red Cross are looking for licensed registered nurses to be available to provide education, consultation and on-the-job training. Interested nurses should contact their local American Red Cross chapter as soon as possible, by going to http://www.redcross.org.

The Canadian Nurses Association has posted information on Canadian-sponsored Hurricane Katrina relief efforts on http://www.cna-nurses.ca/cna.

Volunteers are needed to work shifts from 8am-9pm at the Dallas Convention Center and Reunion Arena working with children. There is a great need to help deter the frustration of parents and relieve them during their time of distress. Please contact Amy Sosa at All About Achievement at (972) 462-9265 for more information.

Volunteers are needed at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the north door on Rusk and Avenue of Americas (door reads UT Entrance). Parking is available for volunteers in the doctors/medical personnel lot. Shifts generally run from 8am-2pm or 2pm-8pm, or volunteers may work any hours available. They are in need of nurses as well. If you are a nurse, please call Ingrid at 713-853-8343 to schedule a time or you may show up and ask for Ingrid.

The Salvation Army is in need of 50 volunteers per shift to help at their warehouse at 9216 Harry Hines Blvd. in Dallas from now until September 17. Shifts run Monday – Saturday, 8am-12:30, 12noon-4pm and on Sundays from 1-4pm. They need help accepting and sorting donations being dropped off as well as help organizing the warehouse. Lunch and drinks will be served to volunteers. Volunteers must be over 16 years of age. They ask that volunteers just show up and request to work.

Quality Inn on I-35E at Teasley and Dallas Drive in Denton is in need of volunteers, hot meal donations, ice chests and refrigerators. They are currently housing approximately 150 evacuees. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Cara Hensley at (940) 387-3511.

Vista Bonita apartments (located across from TWU golf course on Ruddell between Mingo & University) is offering 30 days free rent, no deposit, no application fee & free electric. After 30 days, will extend lease on a month to month basis as needed. They have both 1 & 2 bedroom apartments to offer but need volunteers to help get them ready (cleaning & some painting). They can use volunteers ASAP – the contact person is Alicia Mannen at 940-566-2269.

Friends of the Family Thrift Store located at 1014 W. University in Denton is looking for volunteers to help sort and organize donations. The normal application process has been lifted for the next two weeks for those interested in volunteering. They ask that any volunteers just show up to the store and contact Jason Black, Manager. They need volunteers Monday – Friday from 10am-6pm and Saturday from 10am-4pm.

Volunteers are needed at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. Volunteers are asked to just show up at the Astrodome at any time. They have requested that volunteers enter from Kirby Street at the McNee Road entrance. Police on duty will show volunteers where to park. Volunteers are asked to register when they arrive to receive a name tag and volunteer identification bracelet.

United Way of Denton is looking for volunteers. Please go to their Web site at www.unitedwaydenton.org for more information on how to help with the relief effort.

Efforts Made by the TWU Community

• TWU Dallas Campus has admitted 5 transfer students who attended nursing schools at Louisiana State University and Holy Cross. The Texas Nursing Students Association on the Dallas Campus has donated free uniforms, patches and name tags to the new students. They are also receiving free textbooks.
• Mini-Lecture on Crisis Intervention Work
  Dr. Susan Adams, Counseling professor in the Family Sciences Department at TWU, presented "Mini-Crisis Intervention Crash Course" on Sunday, September 11, 2005 from 6:30-8:00pm at Southmont Baptist Church in Denton. The session covered the nuts and bolts and essentials of crisis intervention work with the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the volunteers that work with them. Approximately 45 people participated in the lecture.
• PIONEERS POUND THE PAVEMENT FOR HURRICANE RELIEF
  With posters, collection cans and even a couple of softball helmets in hand, Texas Woman’s University student-athletes have raised $1,719.56 so far for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Pioneers collected money from drivers and pedestrians at the campus’ main intersection on Sept. 7 during morning and afternoon drive times. TWU Athletics is also donating all proceeds from its volleyball match on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m. to the American Red Cross. Proceeds from ticket sales, concessions and “GO TWU PIONEERS” spirit wristbands sales will be contributed. All fans will receive red, white and blue ribbons to wear in support as well.
• Dr. Susan Adams, Family Sciences department, and Family Sciences department students have been involved in relief efforts in Denton, Fort Worth, Grapevine, and Dallas. They have been volunteering by serving meals and working with children.
• The College of Nursing, Dallas Center, collected $1233, which was delivered to The American Red Cross last Thursday, September 8, 2005
• Thanks to everyone for their support! Camp Copass in Denton is housing more than 300 evacuees and donations were raised so that they could have a Cajun dinner of gumbo on Thursday, September 8, 2005. Enough money was raised that an additional $400 was given to Camp Copass to assist with additional food service items and transportation costs to assist evacuees. Another $400 was donated to the Quality Inn in Denton to cover food and toiletry costs to help the 100 + evacuees residing at the hotel, that does not currently have food service operation.
• Jones Hall community gathered diabetes testing supplies for DLife for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort. The supply kits included test kits, syringes, test strips, and various medical supplies.
• TWU Gymnastics Team collected relief care packages for children and donated them to local churches for the evacuees from New Orleans. The care packages included bathroom items, first aid kits, and beanie baby toys.
• Marilyn Goff (medical librarian, Houston) collected toys, towels and sheets totaling $2,000 from TWU Houston faculty and staff that were donated to shelters in Beaumont and Houston. Items were also donated to the local Humane Society. Several nursing faculty also helped with medical triage in Houston.

• Dr. Pamela Smith Baker (Accounting) and her husband delivered more than 200 health kits and infant supply kits and water, Gatorade and other important over the to a shelter in Lafayette, Louisiana. The health kits contain a hand towel, washcloth, bar of soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, bandaids, shampoo, and finger nail clippers.

• TNSA Dallas campus Chapter has donated more than 2,000 items including food, clothing, diapers, formula and health kits. There items were given to the evacuees staying at the First Baptist Church in McKinney, Texas. They have also collected over 200 health kits from the Dallas campus and are now shifting their focus to non-perishable food items. Last Tuesday, August 31, TNSA donated $1,000 to the KIDD KRADDICK morning radio show on KISS FM for their Hurricane Relief Effort.

Links for More Information on How to Help

Two free call-in lectures titled "After Katrina: Coping with trauma" on 9/13 & 9/15 at 10:30am Central

In response to Hurricane Katrina, addiction professionals and other healthcare providers have taken on the monumental task of helping survivors cope with acute stress and trauma while managing these same feelings themselves.

The Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network is proud of the work being done in this area in the Gulf Coast states. In order to support these efforts, we have scheduled two lecture-based calls that will cover what caregivers working with people impacted by Hurricane Katrina can do to help relieve traumatic stress.

The calls will be led by an expert in traumatic stress, Dr. Mark Lerner, the president of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress (www.aaets.org). PLEASE NOTE: We only have space for 400 participants. Please only dial into the call if you are located in the areas affected by Katrina. Call 1-800 764-9061 to participate in the call-in lecture.

Special thanks to our technology partner, The Conference Depot (1-888-273-1331), for helping to make these calls possible.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact either Laurie Krom (kroml@nattc.org) or Mary Beth Johnson (mbj@nattc.org) at the ATTC National Office (816-482-1200).

If you want to volunteer, but don’t know where to start, here is a great Web site that allows you to match your interests and expertise. Please visit www.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/resources/hurricane.jsp. 

To volunteer in the McKinney area, please visit www.volunteermckinney.org and complete a volunteer form. Or you may contact Tracy Westoff, Program Manager for The Samaritan Inn in McKinney, at (972) 542-5302. The Samaritan Inn is located at 1710 N. McDonald Street. They need volunteers to help sort donations, work with residents on their computer skills and creating resumes and need volunteers with play therapy background.

For individuals who have housing available or need housing, please visit www.hurricanehousing.org for more information.

For more ideas on how you can help, please visit www.campusrelief.org for more information.

Vista Bonita apartments (located across from TWU golf course on Ruddell between Mingo & University) is offering 30 days free rent, no deposit, no application fee & free electric. After 30 days, will extend lease on a month to month basis as needed. They have both 1 & 2 bedroom apartments to offer. They are located at 1920 N. Ruddell in Denton. They can be contacted at 940-566-2269.

For more information on how to get help in Denton, please visit www.dentondisasterrelief.org.

The Children with Diabetes Foundation and Dlife have teamed up to collect diabetes testing supplies. For more information, visit their Web site at www.dlife.com and www.childrenwithdiabetes.com.

Denton Rotary South has secured a 3000 square foot warehouse to store furniture for evacuees when they relocate to permanent housing. If you have furniture to donate you may contact United Way Denton for a drop off location.

For those who need more information on services available to them in Denton county, please view their Web site at www.cityofdenton.org.

Listed below are items that the United Ways says have been requested by several different groups.

For more information, please email Julie@unitedwaydenton.org; Diana@unitedwaydenton.org; Pat@unitedwaydenton.org or Jenni@unitedwaydenton.org or call 940-566-5851.

• Health Kits: The Health Kit is made up of the following items: 1 hand towel 1 washcloth 1 comb 1 nail file or fingernail clippers 1 bath-sized bar of soap 1 adult-sized toothbrush (single brushes in original wrapper) 1 large tube of toothpaste 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages.
   
  These items are placed inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. If the kit is not complete, that is okay. They will be completed before distribution.
   
• Food: Non-Perishable items Paper goods Canned meats Baby formula Bottled water

Personal Care Items: (Plastic Please!) Bar Soap Shampoo Deodorant Toothbrushes Toothpaste Band-Aids Diapers Hand Sanitizer Insect Repellent Baby Wipes Flashlights/batteries Work gloves Plastic gloves New underwear and socks

The organizations below are accepting financial donations:

• American Red Cross
  Call 1-800-HelpNow www.redcross.org
  Checks: American Red Cross 412 South Carroll Blvd, Suite 1001 Denton, TX 76201

• Salvation Army
  Call 1-800-725-2769 www.SalvationArmydallas.org
  Checks Disaster Relief
   
• Salvation Army
  P.O. Box 2333
  Fort Worth, TX 76113-2333
   
• United Way of Denton County
  Call 940-566-5851
  Checks: United Way of Denton County 625 Dallas Drive, Suite 525 Denton, TX 76205 (For Disaster Relief)

Donations Accepted

The Wilkinson Center www.wilkinsoncenter.org in Dallas say their immediate need right now is gift cards from Target and Wal-mart in small increments. Also donations for food to restock their pantry. For every $1 donated they can buy $11 worth of food thru the North Texas Food Bank, so they will of course accept food but money would go farther. Contact Jane Whatters, 214/821-6380 x202 at the Wilkinson Center.

Salvation Army of Denton County is accepting donations of food, diapers, socks, underwear and work gloves. Supplies may be taken to 1508 East McKinney in Denton.

Salvation Army Pantry is accepting food for its kitchen and for distribution to families in our area with dislocated family members and friends. Anyone needing a hot evening meal is invited to come to the Salvation Army at 1508 E. McKinney at 6:30 PM. * People affected by the hurricane are also invited to the Our Daily Bread luncheon Monday through Friday at St. Andrew¹s Presbyterian Church, 300 West Oak in Denton from 12-1:30. United Way of America http://national.unitedway.org/.

United Way of Denton County will provide information to displaced families in the Denton County area to make referrals to organizations willing to help provide services. Call the Information line at 940-566-2688.

United Way of Denton County will take the names of churches, organizations and other entities that are working to donate to the relief. This will help coordinate the efforts and provide a centralized point of reference for those wishing to help.

Below is a listing of local businesses who are accepting non-perishable food, diapers and hygiene products (toothbrushes, bar soap, deodorant, toothpaste, brushes and saline solution:

• Rite Place Storage-Unit 462- Kathy Patton or Rhonda Reese
  2718 West University Drive
  Denton, TX 76201
  940-382-3390 after hours pager
  940-722-0227
  Mon-Sat. 9-6 closed Labor Day & Sundays
   
• TexasBank:
  725 Ft. Worth Drive, Denton, Phone: 940-383-2641
  1013 West University, Denton, Phone: 940-891-2373 (monetary donations only)
   
• DATCU:
  225 W. Mulberry, Denton
  Phone: 940-387-8585
   
• Denton City Hall:
  215 E. McKinney, Denton
  Phone: 940-349-8554
   
• Denton Chamber of Commerce:
  414 Parkway, Denton
  Phone: 940-382-7895
   
• First State Bank:
  400 West Oak, Denton
  Phone: 940-349-5441
   
• City of Corinth:
  3300 Corinth Parkway, Corinth
  Phone: 940-498-3200
   
• Lake Dallas City Hall:
  212 Main Street, Lake Dallas
  Phone: 940-497-2226
   
• Pilot Point Ford:
  11590 S. Hwy. 377, Pilot Point
  Phone: 940-686-2236
   
• Northstar Bank:
  Argyle 100 S. Old Town, Argyle
  Phone: 940-565-7042
   
• Syber Stop:
  1002 Ave C, Denton
  Phone: 940-566-6125
   
• United Way of Denton County-(due to lack of space, monetary donations only):
  625 Dallas Drive Suite 525, Denton TX 76210
  Phone: 940-566-5851

Large items may be made to the below addresses:

• Rite Place Storage-Unit 462- Kathy Patton or Rhonda Reese
  2718 West University Drive
  Denton, TX 76201
  Phone: 940-382-3390 after hours pager 940-722-0227
  Mon-Sat. 9-6 closed Labor Day & Sundays
   
• J&W Warehouse
  1410 Dunn Dr. Carrollton, TX 75006
  Phone: 972-323-9797
  Monday – Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
   
• St. Andrew’s Warehouse on the dates listed below:
  109 Walnut, Denton TX (Directly behind Evers Hardware) between Hannah’s & Sweetwater 
  Phone: 972-323-9797
  • Wednesday Sept. 7, 10-5pm
  • Tuesdays Sept. 13, 20, 27, from 6-8pm
  • Saturdays Sept. 17, 24, 10-3pm
  • Saturday Oct. 1, 10-3

For more information on how to help, check out this Dallas Morning News Web site.

For more information on helping Gulf Coast college students, check out the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Web site below: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us.

If you know of an event where volunteers are needed or would like to include information regarding a relief effort, please contact Dr. Trisha Van Duser in the Center for Student Development at (940) 898-3616 or by email at tvanduser@twu.edu.