Penn State continues to play role in hurricane relief effort

University Park, Pa. -- More than two weeks after Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, Penn State continues to play an active role in relief efforts. Scores of academic departments and student groups have worked tirelessly to collect monetary and material donations to meet the basic needs of those affected by the disaster.

To forward these efforts, the University will host Compassionate Action Day on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The daylong event aims to encourage further donations, as well as offer multi-faith spiritual support and reflection to those who've been victimized by this tragedy.

Among the events of Compassionate Action Day is "Voices of the Experience" at noon at the Frank and Sylvia Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. This event provides an opportunity for the Penn State community to hear firsthand accounts from individuals who experienced the hurricane, as well as view a slide show set to music recounting the devastating aftermath of the storm. The event will feature remarks by a number of Penn State students who were directly affected by the storm, as well as State College couple Al and Valerie Gehn, who were traveling in New Orleans when the hurricane made landfall; Penn State football great Bruce Clark, an evacuee; and Chuck Rider, owner of Rider Auto, a local company that has worked closely with Penn State in the past weeks to organize donations.

The complete list of events is as follows (all held in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center):

9:15 a.m.: Catholic Mass, Followed by the Praying of the Rosary, Meditation Chapel
11 a.m.: Episcopal Prayer, Meditation Chapel
Noon: "Voices of Experience" (firsthand accounts, slides and music), Worship Hall
12:15 p.m.: Hillel Hurricane Information Session, Room 118
1:30 p.m.: Chabad Hurricane Relief Information Table, Information Desk -- Lobby
3 p.m.: Lutheran Prayer, All-Faith Chapel
4:30 p.m.: Praying of the Rosary, followed by Catholic Mass, All-Faith Chapel
5:30 p.m.: Time of Prayer and Fasting -- Evangelical Campus Ministries, Pod 122
7 p.m.: Latter Day Saints Hurricane Discussion and Scripture Study, Room 212

The Pasquerilla Spiritual Center has been designated as an on-campus drop-off location for a cooperative relief effort organized by the University's Applied Research Laboratory and Rider Auto.

Members of the Penn State community are asked to donate the following items, which are still greatly needed by hurricane victims: Canned goods, non-perishable food, water, air mattresses, tarps, coolers, blankets, pillows, formula, Pedialite, diapers, plywood, shingles, battery-operated flashlights, head lamps, personal fans and air nailers. Any electrical items donated must be battery operated.

Items may be donated until Oct. 14. Monetary donations also will be accepted for the American Red Cross.

For more information, contact the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs at (814) 865-6548.

To read more about Penn State's response to Hurricane Katrina, see http://live.psu.edu/story/13357