Virginia Tech students to help assist with cleanup efforts in Eastern Kentucky

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Come Friday a bunch of Hokies might be heading to Letcher County, Kentucky to help with cleanup efforts following lethal flooding in late July.

Whereas within the state the scholars will “spend time mucking out homes, getting ready meals, organizing provides for the group, and aiding with an Appalachian Roots Profit Live performance for flood aid,” in response to a press launch.

The group is spearheaded by Emily Satterwhite, an affiliate professor within the Division of Faith and Tradition, who’s co-teaching a societal well being class.

“I need us to be in solidarity with them, not as people who find themselves giving handouts or charity however individuals who know that with acceleration of local weather change that we may additionally need assistance from neighbors,” Satterwhite stated.

John Frazier is a junior at Virginia Tech and is enrolled in Satterwhite’s class. When the chance offered itself, Frazier needed to volunteer.

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“Being there in particular person and seeing issues for your self is clearly a lot completely different…I feel what I’m most trying ahead to is getting to attach with folks in the neighborhood there,” Frazier stated.

Satterwhite tells WSLS 10 there might be roughly 25 folks going to assist. They’ll even be bringing alongside some quilts that have been tied by Danielle Christensen’s Folks Cultures in Appalachia course.

“Oh my goodness. I’m so grateful to Dr. Danille Christensen and the Folks Cultures and Appalachia Class for taking the time to in a short time mobilize and create from scratch from scraps actually these quilts that we’ll be taking with us to present folks consolation in Jap Kentucky,” Satterwhite stated.

Satterwhite herself has private ties to the state of Kentucky.

“I used to be raised in Kentucky. I’ve shut faculty mates from Letcher County the place we’re headed. I’m impressed with the folks on the bottom there,” Satterwhite stated.

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Now she and her college students might be on the grounds themselves serving to. It ties again to the colleges motto, Ut Prosim, translating to ‘That I’ll serve.’

“It’s not a lot of a factor of ‘oh I really feel good, I’m such a superb particular person,’ I feel it ought to be extra considered as like that is my duty to different human beings in my group,” Frazier stated.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will even be becoming a member of the trigger. Satterwhite organized to move an extra 11 volunteers, with experiences starting from CPR and first help to catastrophe aid and development.

With the journey simply days away, the group remains to be needing extra funding to assist assist extra objectives of the Holler to Holler challenge. For extra info concerning methods to donate, go to the Appalachian Research at Virginia Tech Fb Web page.