Wednesday 28 March 2012
University of South Florida students camp out for ShelterBox USA
In honor of the college’s World Engagement Week, students and faculty from the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) spent two nights in a ShelterBox tent to raise awareness of ShelterBox’s global disaster relief efforts.
"A goal of the international initiative is to make connections between local and global issues relevant to the USFSM community," said Dr. Robin Danzak, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at USFSM. "We are so excited that ShelterBox, an international disaster relief organization, has its US headquarters right here in Lakewood Ranch. What a wonderful opportunity for USFSM to participate by building awareness and reaching out to help people served by ShelterBox around the world."
Six students and an associate professor from the College of Education camped out in a ShelterBox tent on the campus for two nights during the World Engagement Week. The students, faculty and staff were able to raise more than $3,400 for families displaced by disasters around the world, surpassing their $1,000 goal.
“The ShelterBox is one of the most innovative solutions to disaster relief and to improving the lives of those who are currently experiencing homelessness,” said Jessica Johnson, one of the six students who slept in the ShelterBox tent. “I participated to gain a deeper sense of compassion for others and gratitude for everything I have.”
Beverly Hill, a local ShelterBox Response Team volunteer, showed the students how to set up the tent and shared her deployment experiences during the week.
"It was a real pleasure working with the students, faculty and staff at the university for the World Engagement Week event,” she said.
“I am encouraged by the level of support achieved, the community engagement realized, and the potential for future collaborations. It was a win-win, with the original goal of fundraising for one ShelterBox being met more than three times over.”
