Students Abbey Boram, Wheeling, and Luke Tacosik, Morristown, Ohio, join WLU Vice President of Community Engagement Jeff Knierim as they get ready to return to Kentucky to help rebuild their “twin” city.
As the town of West Liberty, Ky. struggles to recover from a devastating tornado, its “twin” city, West Liberty, W.Va., has not forgotten them. On Oct. 25, 40 students and staff of West Liberty University will return to the recovering town to assist the residents in their ongoing reconstruction efforts.
“We are happy to continue to help our neighbors in need,” said Jeff Knierim, vice president of community engagement and just one of the administrators traveling to Kentucky for this task. Also coordinating the trip is Rev. Debra Dague, protestant campus ministry.
It was March 2, 2012, when tornadoes ripped through West Liberty, Ky., leaving five dead and a disaster scene so dangerous, police had to close off access to downtown, according to CBS news.
A few weeks later, West Liberty students packed up and traveled to the stricken region to help out in the clean up and recovery. A team of 33 students and 11 staff members traveled last spring to aid the victims of this disaster. They took with them a busload of clothing, food, water, cleaning supplies, hygiene items and supplies for infants and children, generously donated by WLU staff and students.
Because the rebuilding of a town after a disaster of this magnitude takes months and even years for the town and its residents to get back to “normal,” a long term recovery committee was organized.
Now over fall break 2012, the West Virginia students will spend three more days giving their time and manpower to the huge effort.
For more information, contact Knierim at 304-336-8301 or via email at jknierim@westliberty.edu.
West Liberty University is a forward-looking, four-year public university steeped in a rich heritage as West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education. Established as West Liberty Academy in 1837, it is led by President Robin C. Capehart and is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information on WLU, please visit www.westliberty.edu or call 1.866.WESTLIB.
