Theology professor gathers feminine products for Hurricane Harvey victims
Theology professor Casey Cole and her students collected over 170 feminine products for hurricane victims.
Courtesy of Julia Emerson
Hurricane Harvey has come and gone, but the horrific toll it took on Texas citizens is long-lasting. That's why the opportunity to provide relief caused a significant stir among Professor Casey Cole’s students.
Cole, a theology lecturer, was leading a Bible study at North Cleveland Church of God when she was asked to donate feminine products for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Cole decided to do more than donate personally and asked students in four of the classes she teaches in the School of Religion to donate as well.
“I thought I can do better than buy a box,” Cole said.
One request and a reminder email resulted in 175 donated feminine products from students. The collection took place Monday, Sept. 4, through Wednesday, Sept. 6.
“Seventy boxes of tampons, 30 boxes of liners and 75 boxes of pads,” Cole said. “I never expected that.”
Guys and girls were encouraged to bring pads, tampons or liners in an effort to provide assistance to women effected by Harvey. Initially, Cole said she was hesitant to ask male students but was amazed by the response.
“When I started taking things in on Monday and Tuesday, more male students had donated,” Cole said.
Brandon Balmer, a sophomore business major, said he had no reservations to helping the cause.
“There are people in need and one of Lee’s things is service,” Balmer said. “It’s hard for college students to drop what they’re doing and go down there. This is a small way to help out.”
Cole said it was not until she announced halfway through the effort that male students had been donating more that more girls stepped up their game. This resulted in an almost equal amount of donations from male and female students.
For some of Cole’s students, the hurricane hit close to home.
Sianna Reynolds, a junior sociology major, is originally from Dallas. She went back to attend a funeral for a friend’s daughter. The seven-year-old girl was killed after being separated from her family during a house accident caused by Hurricane Harvey.
“No one ever wants to go to a funeral for someone’s child,” Reynolds said. “I can’t really put it into words. It’s hard to process the whole thing.”
When she returned to campus, Reynolds donated two boxes towards the drive.
“Whether it’s a hurricane or something small happening in our community, as a campus, it really does bring us together unlike other campuses when we do things corporately,” Reynolds said. “It’s a form of worship. We love God by loving his people.”
Professor of Pastoral Studies Jerald Daffe said he was impressed by the students' response.
“It is cognitive of the need to see what’s going on,” Daffe said. “We talk about food and blankets, but what about personal needs?”
Madison Hummel, a freshman undeclared major, was disappointed that she had not heard of the Lee community doing more for victims of the hurricane.
“Everyone from Lee is not necessarily from here”, Hummel shared. “I’ve met students from all over the world. It’s important we consider that just because it didn’t happen here doesn’t mean there aren’t students who are affected by it.”
As a student in Professor Cole’s Gateway class, Hummel was appreciative of the specific donation request.
“I was super excited because it was about the female products,” Hummel said. “I was proud, not embarrassed or ashamed, because it’s not about me. It’s about them.”
Professor Cole reflected on the outcome made by a simple request.
“This is Lee students,” Cole said. “There is a need and they meet it.”
