Students Eager to Help
One might think that getting 20,000 college students and other members of the community to volunteer to help fill sandbags would be a monumental task. MSUM, however, was able to recruit them quickly because they wanted to be of service and because the school had effective emergency text message and E-mail systems.
“They came by the thousands to help,” says Parks, in reference to students responding to the emergency text messages sent to their phones requesting their assistance with the sandbagging efforts. “They came eagerly and volunteered for four or five hours, and then they went back to have something to eat. It was raining; it was cold, and they would go right out for another five or six hours. They did multiple tours on multiple days.”
To view our slideshow on this event, click here.
