Turmoil, heartache and death.

These are just a few words that come to mind when people think of what is known today as one of the worst national disasters to ever touch U.S. soil.

As a result of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of citizens of New Orleans, Alabama, and lower Mississippi where left homeless, without clothes, and in some cases without family members.

As a country that believes in “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” America has come together to help aid our country while it is in need. The men of Phi Beta Sigma have begun the “When Doves Cry Hurricane Disaster Relief.” Items from clothes to bottled water, to monetary donations were accepted. Phi Beta Sigma d president William Riddle said, “‘When Doves Cry’ was something that had to be done, Hurricane Katrina really touched home with a lot of students here at the campus, and immediate action needed to be taken.” Phi Beta Sigma member Durell Wright added, “We have the ‘Wall of Hope’ this wall represents togetherness amongst the students of UTM coming together to help aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina.”

All proceeds from “When Doves Cry Disaster Relief” will be donated to the Weakly County office of the American Red Cross. According to the official American Red Cross website, as of Sept. 11, the American Red Cross has housed more than 160,000 survivors providing nearly 1.9 million overnight stays in 707 shelters across 24 states and the District of Columbia. The Red Cross, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, has served more than 7.2 million hot meals to more than 6.5 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina. As of Sept. 10, 2005, it has received $578 million in gifts and pledges for the hurricane relief effort, of which an estimate $302 million has been received online.

To learn more about the coordination of efforts among the many organizations and agencies helping hurricane survivors and for additional resources, visit www.usafreedomcorps.gov.