Gustavus students Nicole Able and Lindsay Sawatzky were part of a First Term Seminar that participated in flood relief efforts.
By Ashley Helgerson ’08
As a part of the First Term Seminar “Are We Consumers or Are We Citizens,” 14 Gustavus students traveled to Winona, Minn., Saturday, Oct. 27 to lend a helping hand with flood clean-up efforts.
Several Southeastern Minnesota towns were ravaged by flood waters in August and recovery efforts are still ongoing.
Upon arrival, the students divided into groups and worked with other volunteers to assist three families. Some of the tasks they performed included picking up shingles, tearing down ceilings, removing insulation, and carrying away and discarding damaged furniture.
The students were there to assist with anything that would be helpful for the victimized families to return to normal life as quickly as possible. For the students it was a real eye-opener.
“It was a lot worse than I imagined it was going to be. I didn’t think it would be that devastating,” said Melissa Ramey ’11.
To show their appreciation for the students’ efforts, one family made the volunteers a home-cooked meal.
“We got to meet some of the families whom we were helping and get to know them,” said Allison Huff ’11.
Professor Thia Cooper teaches this citizen versus consumer course. The students in the class were required to devise a service project that would show citizenry. The class then planned and executed one of the projects.
The volunteer effort by this group of Gustavus students continues the tradition of the Gustavus community assisting victims of natural disasters much like the thousands of volunteers who flocked to St. Peter and Gustavus following a 1998 tornado.