When Hurricane Helene swept through Appalachia, the students, faculty, and staff at Shepherd University immediately looked for ways they could help the impacted communities.
The Shepherd University Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities; School of Music; and Department of Contemporary Art, Communication, and Theater hosted the Rams Act for Appalachia benefit concert on November 15.
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More than 40 students, faculty, and staff shared their musical gifts to raise nearly $2,700 in donations for hurricane relief.
The performances included old-time and gospel music, to contemporary pieces inspired by the region.
Performers included Shepherd students, faculty, and staff members Dr. Ben Bankhurst, Dr. Austin Showen, Andrea Diggs, Anthony Stoika, Dr. Scott Hippensteel, Dr. Yu-Hsuan Liao, Dr. Bob Robinson, Dr. Tula Ruggiero, Rachael Meads, and Dr. Keith Alexander. Other performers were the Village Brass, Paul the Resonator with the SmorgasBoys, Dana Foddrell and members of Wainwright Baptist Church Choir, and more.
The benefit, coordinated by music faculty Diggs, Showen, and Director of Student Activities/Appalachian Studies instructor Rachael Meads, engaged students in direct service-learning opportunities with a product drive collected backpacks, school supplies, and hygiene products for the WV Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.
Director of the University’s Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities, Dr. Ben Bankhurst, said he’s proud of the entire campus for the outreach.
“This concert, and the broader fundraising efforts surrounding it, attest to our university community’s commitment to our region and its people during a time of great need,” Bankhurst said. “Together, our campus community has done something wonderful.”
“This concert, and the broader fundraising efforts surrounding it, attest to our university community’s commitment to our region and its people during a time of great need. Together our campus community has done something wonderful.”Meads utilized the drive as a service-learning project for her Appalachian Studies graduate class.
In addition to performing, her students assembled a video presentation of images and quotes focused on the resilience and strong community spirit in Appalachia.
Graduate student Cara McNamara McVeigh coordinated an interactive art project “Messages in the Wind,” allowing community members to share messages of support with the Homestead Recovery Center of Boone, North Carolina.
“Everyone came together to share their talents and creativity to help others and embodied the things that make Shepherd and Appalachia so special,” Meads said.
There is still time to contribute to the relief effort. Contributions can be made online through December 1, 2024.
How we are helping
All donations will be shared by WV VOAD (West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) and the Appalachian Helene Response Fund to distribute. You can support those causes directly as well!
| WV VOAD | Appalachian Helene Response Fund |
Donations
We are still collecting donations