Although the Student Nurses Association collected plenty of toiletries for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina, they say the evacuees can always use more.
"We delivered three big boxes of toiletries to the Red Cross yesterday," SNA president Carrie McIvor said. "They seemed really appreciative."
Jean McIvor, SNA advisor and clinical associate professor of nursing, said the SNA did not garner as large of a response as they would have liked, but said the organization is thankful for all donations and contributions.
"People may have already donated in other ways," Jean said. "We want to say thanks for all efforts."
The box of toiletries included commonly used items like soap, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste and Kleenex, Carrie said. Forgetting the little things that evacuees need is what prompted the SNA toiletry drive in the first place.
"Oftentimes, I think, toiletries are seen as luxury over food and shelter," she said.
Carrie also said that with the dispensability of toiletries, people must keep giving.
"We must also remember that toiletries run out, and so evacuees may need to be supplied with a second round of things and this is why we must still be willing to give to them what we all take advantage of everyday," Carrie said.
In an effort to raise money for other items needed by evacuees, the SNA opened a bank account with the First South Bank on campus, where students could deposit donations.
Carrie did not disclose the amount of money raised, but did say she didn't think it was much.
However, the organization joined in with the entire school of nursing and raised money in their nursing classes to help their fellow student nurses who evacuated from cities destroyed by the hurricane.
"Loewenberg School of Nursing received five nursing students form the Gulf Coast area," Carrie said. "Within our small community, we raised $750 for our new students, enough to give them each $150 Simon gift cards so that they could purchase some of the things they needed."
Jackie Coble is one of the five nursing evacuees attending The University of Memphis from the Gulf Coast area. She used her Simon gift card to buy winter clothes and a jacket.
"(The gift card) was really nice and very unexpected," Coble said. "The school and the people here have really gone out of their way."
No matter how much time and effort it takes to organize a fundraiser, Carrie said people should still go ahead and do what they can.
"I know it seems like everyone is asking for more and more, but you can't say you're asking for too much," Carrie said. "It is important that we do not become complacent in our zeal to help those who lost everything."
Susan Lippincott, SNA secretary and New Orleans native, said the effort should continue.
"We are leaving the boxes out there," Lippincott said. "Don't stop, (even though) I know it's not in the media as much."
Being from the affected area, Lippincott said it was very shocking to see her city and childhood erased by Hurricane Katrina.
"It will never be the same," she said.
Although Hurricane Wilma is not as big as Katrina was, Lippincott said the effort to help should be the same.
"We need to do the same thing for Wilma survivors (as for Katrina and Rita survivors)," Lippincott said.
The SNA is now focusing on a new charitable project, The Angel Tree, a Salvation Army Christmas program, Carrie said.
"We have already contacted other organizations to see if they want to do a tree, and we've already gotten responses," Carrie said.
