MTSU’s Student Government Association decided to lend a helping hand to victims of Hurricane Harvey by recently collecting donations on campus.

Marked as one of the worst natural disasters in the nation’s history, Hurricane Harvey flooded many areas of Houston, Texas, and surrounding communities in late August, leaving behind a recovery process that will take years.

In hopes of raising awareness, MTSU SGA set up a donations table dubbed “Raider Relief” in the lobby of the Student Union building Sept. 6-8.

MTSU Student Government Association senators Taylor Edens, left, and Samantha Eisenberg collect donations during the Raider Relief effort held Sept. 6-8 in the Student Union atrium to help Hurricane Harvey victims. (MTSU photo by Jayla Jackson)

SGA Senator Taylor Edens believes helping out her hometown of Houston by collecting items such as nonperishable food and other essentials may be a good start for recovery efforts.

“I have family and friends who’ve lived there so I understand the direct impact Hurricane Harvey had on several different families,” she said. “It’s cool to see people from all over the United States come together and send stuff to help out.”

While SGA did not have a donations goal, MTSU junior Samantha Eisenberg noted every item counts.

“We want to get as much as we can to send off to the people in need after this tragic event,” Eisenberg said.

A range of items from diapers to articles of clothing piled up throughout the day as students dropped off donations.

“Each day of Raider Relief has been really good, seeing how this was a last-minute thing … I’m glad to see everyone coming together to donate,” Eisenberg said.

For more information about the SGA, visit www.mtsu.edu/sga.

— Jayla Jackson (news@mtsu.edu)

MTSU Student Government Association Senator Taylor Edens, left, and SGA Attorney General Hannah Leyhew collect donations during the Raider Relief effort held Sept. 6-8 in the Student Union atrium to help Hurricane Harvey victims. (MTSU photo by Jayla Jackson)