Belmont Responds to the Disaster at Union University
Belmont University officials have been in touch with their counterparts at Union University over the past two days, as well as with the Tennessee Baptist Convention Disaster Relief director on the Union campus. We continue to pray for our sisters and brothers in Christ who have been devastated by the recent tornadoes. We will be responding to their needs in the following ways:
- Union University has requested that, instead of providing clothes, food and toiletries, we give gift cards to Wal-Mart, Target, Lowe’s or Home Depot to Union students. We will have tables set up during Homecoming at Belmont this weekend, as well as at the Rock showcase and other upcoming events, to collect gift cards (Belmont will use cash or check donations to purchase gift cards). Donations and gift cards can also be dropped off at the Office of Spiritual Development (third floor of Freeman) or mailed directly to Union University Disaster Relief Fund, 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, TN 38305.
- Secure online donations can be made directly to Union University using your credit card here.
- Wednesday morning, February 13, thanks to Sodexho’s generosity, we will offer breakfast for $1 to all who come to the cafeteria. All donations over $1 per person will go to Union University students in need.
- Wednesday evening, February 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the campus wide worship service in the Maddox Grand Atrium, we will have a focused time of prayer for Union University and take up a special collection for the needs of students.
- Thursday, February 14 at 4:45 p.m. we will have a special time of prayer for Union University during the weekly faculty prayer service at the Tower Prayer Chapel.
- On Saturday, February 16, we will have a Belmont Disaster Relief Trip to Union which will depart Belmont at 6:45 a.m. and be back at approximately 8:00 p.m. Belmont faculty, staff and students can sign up by emailing Christy Ridings, our Associate University Minister, at ridingsc@mail.belmont.edu, calling 615.460.6419, calling 615.460.6419, or stopping by the University Ministries Office or the School of Religion Office. (Please provide your name, email and cell number when you contact us). There will be a required Disaster Relief Training Session on Friday, February 15th at 4:00 p.m. at the University Ministries Office.
Upcoming Efforts:
Belmont is ready to provide our trained crisis counselors, FEMA-trained public safety officers, and the use of any of its facilities or online academic resources once Union is in a position to avail itself of these things.
Many students have offered to open their dorm rooms and apartments to any Union University students in need of temporary housing, and our administration stands ready, as we did for 29 displaced students following the Katrina disaster, to work with Union University to allow their students to take classes at Belmont and to remit all tuition received to Union.
