Nearly 200 members of FSU’s Interfraternity Council (IFC) community traveled to Perry, Florida, the Sunday following Hurricane Helene to provide support with local clean-up efforts. The students spent the day picking up downed trees, moving furniture out of flooded houses and helping wherever else they could.
“I was very touched by the initiative our IFC community showed,” said Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs. “Their commitment to help out a community which was so significantly hit by this disaster was inspiring.”
Ian Seibert, FSU IFC vice president of scholarship and service, realized that most disaster relief organizations were still getting set up to receive organized volunteers. He figured the IFC could help if they just showed up, and they quickly did, knocking on doors and asking if homeowners needed help. The word quickly spread, and they started getting requests from churches, small businesses and locals asking for assistance.
“We are truly grateful to the Interfraternity Council young men with FSU for this wonderful act of kindness to those suffering from the effects of Hurricane Helene,” said Major Marie Harris, Salvation Army worker. “Giving their time and resources to feed people who have lost everything they have in this world — it’s a breath of fresh air to our community. Our future is in good hands with young men like these.”
Many members of the IFC community volunteered with Disaster Relief Florida to help serve food. IFC members, including Charlie Hansen, looked for additional ways to serve the community beyond the group’s day of service. Hansen and members of the Kappa Alpha Order cooked more than 100 pounds of pulled pork and worked with the Salvation Army to feed and deliver food to a relief camp on Keaton Beach.
