Tech Students Needed For Saturday Tornado Clean Up

As part of Tennessee Tech’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service Week, students are being recruited for a Saturday tornado cleanup.

Inspiritus Volunteer Coordinator Amy Jennings said a single Putnam County residence is the focus of work.

“They will be working with one of the client cases that Inspiritus is working with on completing repairs from the tornado,” Jennings said. “This home was greatly affected by the tornado March 3rd. So this is further clean up to almost bring this case to completion.”

Service Learning Center Director Michelle Huddleston said members from the AmeriCorp National Civilian Community Corps will be working with students. Jennings said the organization send small groups across the nation to get young adults involved in community service.

“The NCCC is a long term, usually it is a year commitment,” Jennings said. “And those teams travel to other areas of the country and do everything from disaster response to recovery to owkring with other non-profit organizations.”

Jennings lost her home during the tornado. She said she saw firsthand the great deeds Tech students can accomplish.

“My house was in ground zero, one of the hardest hit areas of the tornado,” Jennings said. “I had so many students helping in my yard. There were students handing out gift cards to people. They were moving tree limbs. They were helping cut down trees. They worked so hard.”

Students can sign up through Tech’s website or the University Service Center. Shifts begin at 8:00 a.m. Huddleston said another way to serve Friday is helping prepare for the opening of the university food pantry.