Following Hurricane Katrina, my daughter Eva Jorgensen-Briggs, who works in a special-education classroom at Lucas Elementary School in Iowa City, initiated a drive, through me, to collect funds toward helping families relocated to Iowa City. Very simply, we asked people to donate just one dollar at a time. Students in my classes and in classes taught by Ruth Weatherly and Barb Ramos collected a total of $200 to directly assist these families.

Eva wants to remind the Simpson community that these families will have significant need long into the future.

“It is very important that we do not forget about the people affected by Hurricane Katrina,” Eva said. “Collecting funds at Simpson College is a great way to start. I thank all of the students and faculty that have contributed. So far, $200 worth of Hy-Vee gift certificates have been purchased and given directly to two families from New Orleans. These two families have permanently relocated to Iowa City and need all the help we can give them.”

As Thanksgiving approaches, I encourage members of the Simpson community to show their thankfulness by sharing some of their abundance. Please help us continue these efforts into the coming months.

Interested Simpsonian readers may volunteer to collect funds in the dorms or offices. They may contact me at [email protected] if they would like a collection jar for their space.

Beth Jorgensen

Assistant professor of English