Members of Sigma Phi Epsilon traveled to Augusta to lend a hand
The worst of Hurricane Helene just missed UGA’s campus and Athens to the east, but many students felt the impact in their hometowns. For Joe and Cam West and their fraternity brothers, this presented a clear opportunity: to help however they could.
On Oct. 6, eight students from the University of Georgia’s Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity traveled to the Augusta area to help with the storm recovery. They trimmed limbs, cleared yards and provided comfort and support.
Joe West, Sig Ep’s chaplain, said several members of the organization are from Augusta and woke up to devastating news the morning after the storm passed through.
“We were kind of just all in shock at some of the damage,” West said. “One guy’s house was hit by 10 trees. And the more news that came in, the worse things sounded.”
Cam West had the initial idea to help, whether through fundraising, gathering supplies or using fraternity connections. The challenge is that those efforts take time, and after a few days, the students decided they wanted to act more quickly.
Eight students committed to gathering supplies, borrowing chainsaws and tools from their parents, and waking up early Sunday morning to travel east and help however they could. In addition to Cam and Joe West, the other students were Kiefer Adams, Nathan Duke, Allen Grinalds, Tyler Watkins, Spencer Wiley and Rock Rogers. Rogers is currently serving as president of UGA’s Student Government Association.
