Thank You, Volunteers!

04/19/2018


As soon as news spread throughout the state and nation on March 19 that Jacksonville State and the City of Jacksonville had been hit by a destructive tornado, there was an outpouring of support from those wanting to volunteer with cleanup and recovery.  

For the first three weeks following the storm, a Volunteer Reception Center was operated by the United Way at the Jacksonville Community Center. More than 5,000 individuals volunteered, many of them on multiple days, through this center. 

Once the university reopened, the Volunteer Reception Center began sending trained volunteers to help with cleanup efforts on campus. In addition to the thousands of volunteers in the community, JSU has had more than 500 volunteers working nearly 6,000 hours so far on campus. The university would like to thank all of those who have volunteered to help rebuild our beautiful campus and our beloved city.  

We have had volunteer groups from the following community partners so far: 

  • Abba's House
  • All State
  • All Walks of Life
  • AmeriCorps
  • Cleburne County Youth Leadership
  • Leadership Calhoun County
  • Lowe’s
  • Matrix
  • MedMark
  • MDA Professional Group
  • The Regenerate Society
  • Regions Bank
  • Triplett
  • Turner
  • Wells Fargo Advisors - Anniston

JSU also had an outpouring of support from our peers in higher education. Auburn University and the University of Alabama stepped up to help right away. Auburn sent its emergency management professionals and police officers to assist while Alabama sent an entire delegation from its administration to share knowledge and expertise gained from the April 27, 2011 tornado that struck its campus.

There were numerous other colleges and universities that volunteered or donated to the recovery efforts, including:

  • Appalachian State University
  • Athens State University
  • Auburn University 
  • Auburn University at Montgomery
  • Austin Peay State University
  • Belmont University 
  • Berry College
  • Faulkner University 
  • Ferris State University
  • Gadsden State Community College
  • Georgia Highlands College
  • Kennesaw State University
  • Murray State University
  • Samford University 
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Skidmore College
  • State University of New York - Plattsburgh
  • Tennessee State University
  • Texas Christian University
  • Troy University 
  • Washington and Jefferson College
  • University of Alabama
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • University of Montevallo
  • University of North Alabama
  • University of South Alabama 
  • University of West Alabama
  • Ohio Valley Conference

JSU students, faculty and staff – many of them storm victims themselves – also volunteered to clean up the campus. While many individuals gave back, JSU volunteer groups included: 

  • GO! Leaders
  • Center for Economic Development 
  • JSU Athletics 
  • JSU Fraternity & Sorority Life
  • JSU SGA 

Don’t see your group on the list of volunteers? We are so sorry we didn’t write down your name during the frenzy of activity following the storm. Please just send an email to jsunews@jsu.edu and we’ll get your hours recorded and added to the list. Still want to volunteer? Contact Andy Green, Director of Community Engagement, at green@jsu.edu.

Thanks for all your help! With friends like these, we continue to be JSU Strong, Gamecock Strong and Jacksonville Strong! 

JSU volunteers