As the town of West Liberty, Ky. recovers from a devastating tornado, its “sister” city in West Liberty, W.Va., has not forgotten them. On Oct. 25, 29 students and four staff of West Liberty University returned to the recovering town to assist the residents in their ongoing reconstruction efforts.
The West Virginia group will work on painting and construction projects Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27 during their Fall Break. The group returns to West Virginia on Sunday.
The group is staying in a small church during the trip and sleeping on pews in some cases.
“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.
To raise money for the trip, the WLU students sold candy and worked as celebrity waiters. Also the West Liberty University Foundation sponsored the trip with a donation.
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 call 1.866.WESTLIB or visit its webpage, westliberty.edu.
