Twenty four days ago Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast.
The storm made landfall on Aug. 29 near New Orleans, and the region was forever changed.
Heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds of up to 160 mph devastated parts of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
The massive flooding and extensive damage caused by Hurricane Katrina left thousands homeless.
All they have worked for is gone.
Now, in the aftermath of the storm, the nation is slowly trying to rebuild the areas hit the hardest.
Volunteers from across the country are traveling south by the thousands to offer assistance.
And those who cannot physically take part in the relief effort are contributing in the form of monetary donations.
Millions have been affected in some way by what is thought to be the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in U.S history.
Although some may complain that the government did not respond quickly enough in the midst of the catastrophe, I feel that the overwhelming response of the American people in general has been tremendous.
Furthermore, I support the relief effort myself and would encourage you all to do the same.
Working together to better society in the face of a tragedy like this is essential.
In no way do I wish to belittle the incredible efforts put forth to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina; however, the immense support does cause me to wonder.
Why did the volunteers feel compelled to join the relief effort?
I’m not questioning their motives, but rather I am questioning their timing.
Organizations such as the Red Cross and members of units like the Army Reserve commit themselves everyday to assisting those in need.
But what about your average volunteer citizen?
What were all these people doing in the weeks and months before Katrina struck? Were they involved in other volunteer projects? Did they even give a second thought to those less fortunate?
Whether it be to help those who are homeless, abused, poverty-stricken or hungry, there is never a shortage of people who need help in our country.
So why is it that often times we don’t act until disaster strikes?
Does it really take a tragedy to open our eyes?
I realize in some cases it does take a monumental event to bring people to action. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as the support doesn’t end there!
Everyone needs to start somewhere. But I want to know, why does it have to end with helping the victims of Katrina?
If people truly desire to make a difference in the lives of the victims of misfortune, doesn’t that require more than 10 hours of service here or $500 donated there?
Again, I believe that any amount of service to those in need is something to be commended. I’m simply pointing out that a problem arises when we allow our giving to stop.
What is gained if in a few short months volunteers return from the South and go on with their lives like before? What happens if, as the rebuilding nears completion, the desire to help fades away?
There are still thousands of people in our country in need of charity. That is not likely to change any time soon unless we do something about it.
We must act now. We cannot wait until it is convenient for us, or when a disaster occurs.
So I challenge each and every one of you to make a difference in the world today by helping someone.
It doesn’t have to be an enormous task.
It can be as simple as tutoring an elementary school student or giving a few dollars to a worthwhile cause. The important thing is that you’re doing something and every little bit helps.
If you want to help but don’t know how to get involved, there are dozens of organizations on campus serving our community locally and nationally. Or you can start by going to www.redcross.org.
Let’s join together as a nation and help one another, not only when forces of nature dictate it, but always.
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