Baylor Community 'Unites for Union' University

media contact: Paige Patton, communication specialist, (254) 710-3321

Baylor University students, faculty and staff are working together to provide relief aid to Union University in Jackson, Tenn., after the campus was devastated two weeks ago by a powerful tornado.

Union officials said their greatest need is for physical items like school supplies, bedding, Bibles, personal toiletries, shoes and clothes. To help meet those needs, Baylor's Student Activities and University Ministries departments are hosting a "United for Union" gift card drive until Friday, March 7, to meet the immediate needs of Union students affected by the tornado. Gift cards from Target and Walmart in $25 increments are being collected at the Student Activities and University Ministries offices, at the Bobo Baptist Student Center, McLane Student Life Center (SLC) and in Waco Hall following chapel services. Resident Chaplains and service chairs are spearheading the effort.

The natural disaster on Feb. 5 caused major damage to 19 of the 42 buildings on Union's campus and minor damage to 12 buildings. Forty percent of residence halls were destroyed and another 40 percent were severely damaged. Fifty-one students were treated for injuries, but no lives were lost.

"We contacted Union University officials and offered a variety of help options including an 'alternative Spring Break' program that would have taken a team of student volunteers to their campus to aid in clean-up efforts. Union officials indicated that they have had a tremendous volunteer response from their local community. However, our contacts at Union cited the need for physical items," said Karin Klinger, associate director of student activities at Baylor.

Donations will be accepted at the drop-off locations through Friday, March 7. For more information, contact Klinger at (254) 710-6936 or Becky Kennedy in University Ministries at (254) 710-3517 or visit Union University's recovery web site at www.uurecovery.com.