GREENEVILLE – As the region recovers from damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Tusculum University family members are providing valuable support to those in need.
Left to right, Tusculum students Rasmus Nylander, Paul Nwigwe and Peter Nwigwe load water in a car at Chuckey-Doak Middle School.
Tusculum staff member Steve Anderson, center, and student Xavier Velazquez, right, and a community member load bottled water in a car.
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, Chuck Sutton, associate vice president of student affairs and retention; Shane Matthews, chief of campus safety; Steve Anderson, multicultural retention specialist in Student Support Services; and student Xavier Velazquez helped distribute cases of bottled water at Greeneville Municipal Airport.
Later in the day, Starr Hummel, Tusculum’s first lady, and her daughter, Lauren, helped check in people seeking water at Chuckey-Doak Middle School while students Rasmus Nylander and twins Paul and Peter Nwigwe loaded cases in people’s vehicles.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Conley, assistant professor of art and design, spent six hours that day and six hours on Thursday, Oct. 3, at Southside Freewill Baptist Church in Erwin. He teamed with others to collect donated items and then provide them to people in need who came to the church. Matthews planned to head to Unicoi County Saturday to provide any assistance people there need.
“Our friends and neighbors in the region have been extremely helpful to Tusculum during this period and many other times, and we are pleased to lend a hand to them in return,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “Part of our mission is to be civically engaged, and we welcome opportunities to serve the community. With all of us pulling together, we are meeting the challenges presented by the hurricane and pressing forward.”
Shane Matthews, chief of campus safety at Tusculum University, loads bottled water into the bed of a truck.
Starr Hummel, Tusculum University’s first lady, checks in a community member at Chuckey-Doak Middle School.
In addition to the level of community support shown already, Tusculum is planning to hold a second Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day this month. This will enable additional students who have been off campus since water service was lost in Greene County to assist the community with service work. The university is also assisting Tusculum faculty and staff members who have experienced challenges presented by the hurricane.
Matthews said he reached out to Steve Spano, chief of the Greeneville Police Department to offer assistance. Spano asked Matthews whether he could help with water distribution at the airport and Matthews readily agreed. He contacted Sutton, who lined up Anderson and Velazquez to join the group.
Public safety agencies in Greeneville have been helpful to the university, so it is absolutely appropriate to return the favor, Matthews said.
“As much as Greeneville helps us, we needed to help them with this project and were glad to be part of this community initiative,” he said. “Greeneville is always willing to help back up the City of Tusculum when we need assistance at the university. This is another way we can express our appreciation.”
Conley’s wife knew the organizer of the event in Erwin, and the professor wanted to pitch in and assist Unicoi Countians.
“I have lived the region for 3 ½ years, and I really wanted to help out as everyone during this moment of need,” he said. “I am thankful to be part of the effort to help people navigate this challenging time in their lives.”
Tusculum staff member Chuck Sutton loads bottled water into a car.
Left to right, Steve Anderson, Xavier Velazquez, Chuck Sutton and Shane Matthews assisted with water distribution at Greeneville Municipal Airport.
Nylander, who is pursuing a Master of Business Administration and is serving as a graduate assistant for Tusculum’s athletic department, said he felt it was important for him to participate.
“I felt if I could help, I should help in whatever capacity necessary,” Nylander said. “I am happy I could help out and serve people. In a time like this, it should be a default to help in any way you can.”
Velazquez had similar feelings.
“God has blessed me in more ways than I can count, and I want to be the same blessing for others,” he said. “I’ve always raised myself to help those in need. There is a quote that guides me: “Be the change you want to see. I feel like I took a step in the right direction with my participation.”
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.