Virginia Tech college students to assist help with cleanup efforts in Jap Kentucky

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Come Friday a gaggle of Hokies will likely 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, making ready meals, organizing provides for the neighborhood, and aiding with an Appalachian Roots Profit Live performance for flood aid,” based on a press release.

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 need assistance from neighbors,” Satterwhite mentioned.

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

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“Being there in individual and seeing issues for your self is clearly a lot completely different…I believe what I’m most trying ahead to is getting to attach with folks locally there,” Frazier mentioned.

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

“Oh my goodness. I’m so grateful to Dr. Danille Christensen and the People 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 provide folks consolation in Jap Kentucky,” Satterwhite mentioned.

Satterwhite herself has private ties to the state of Kentucky.

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

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Now she and her college students will likely be on the grounds themselves serving to. It ties again to the schools 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 individual,’ I believe it ought to be extra considered as like that is my duty to different human beings in my neighborhood,” Frazier mentioned.

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

With the journey simply days away, the group continues to be needing extra funding to assist assist further targets of the Holler to Holler undertaking. For extra info concerning how one can donate, go to the Appalachian Studies at Virginia Tech Facebook Page.