October 10, 2005

Trip to Mississippi an education for Troy University students

TROY – When Dr. Candice Howard’s mother learned of the efforts of an Alabama restaurateur, not only did she lend a hand but she sparked Troy University students into helping a hurricane-ravaged South Mississippi city.

“My mother was listening to the radio at work one day and heard of a man named Larry Gastin of Camden, who owns restaurants in various locations – one being in Waveland, Miss., which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina,” said Howard, an assistant professor of kinesiology and health promotion at TROY.

To make a long story short, Howard said, her mother organized a supplies-drive in her town of Brewton and delivered them to Gastin in Waveland. Each Sunday, Gaston’s group – composed of volunteers from Evergreen and Camden – cook and serve a hot meal.

“I mentioned all of this to my students and immediately they began asking what to do,” she said.

The concept culminated in Howard and seven students taking donated supplies to Waveland on Sunday.

“It was really, really an education. It gave you a different feeling being there,” she said. “You think you know what it’s like, but they show the better pictures on TV – things look bad on TV but they are really pictures of the best. When you get there in person you see the destructions.”

When Howard’s group arrived in Waveland, towing its donated trailer, it didn’t take long for the students to swing into action.

“The setup was like a garage sale and we helped people find the things they needed and when we were done, we helped the Evergreen group serve meals,” she said.

“There’s absolutely nothing left. You just see foundations – the lumber is gone, the furniture is gone there’s nothing. The 37-foot storm surge sucked everything back out into the ocean,” Howard said.

It won’t be the only relief trip to Waveland. Howard said the department is organizing another relief mission in the near future. Items needed by the group are cleaning supplies (from detergent and bleach to brooms and mops), baby items (diapers, food, formula), and food for pets.

To donate items to the department, contact Howard at 334-670-5732. Howard said donations could also be made to Gastin, who accepts checks made to the order of Wal-Mart or to Larry’s Drive-In. Contact Gastin at 334- 431-0608.