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Students pave way to help after Katrina by Cindy Abole Public Relations While Americans and the world watched helplessly as events began to unfold surrounding the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, MUSC College of Pharmacy students responded to the needs of victims across the Gulf Coast states.      Pharmacy Class of 2007 students Layne Hepler and Andrew Hunter could not believe the images and words being reported following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.      “We wanted to find a way to help these people and lend them our support,” said Hepler. “What occurred was an extraordinary human effort that allowed MUSC students and staff to show they care and help out.”      Just 72 hours after Katrina made landfall in coastal Louisiana on Aug. 29, the pair were already finalizing plans and establishing details in the creation of a non-profit Katrina Relief Fund with South Carolina Federal Credit Union to benefit the American Red Cross and support disaster relief efforts. The money will be used to provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance for people affected by the hurricane.      Contributors Jennifer German, center, and Verna Pinckney of surgical pathology give money on their way to lunch Aug. 31. “My heart goes out to them,” Pinckney said. “I know what it feels like to be without. I lost my home to Hurricane Hugo 16 years ago and like them, counted on the help and generosity of others.  I feel lucky to have what I have today. What’s sad is that people lost everything and desperately need help.” Accepting the money on behalf of the American Red Cross is pharmacy student Andrew Hunter. Working with students, they began taking up donations within classes and organized a campus Katrina Relief Fund collection table outside the main hospital cafeteria. Weekdays between midday and 1 p.m., pharmacy students collected cash and check donations in exchange for a blue support ribbon.   As news of their efforts spread, so did interest from fellow students. Hepler met with student leaders representing other college classes and programs, plus MUSC’s Student Government Association. Hepler has also enlisted the support of matching funds from 71 collegiate chapters of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.      Second-year medical student Jacob Phillips wanted to get involved and learned of the pharmacy students’ efforts.   “Like others, I was drawn by the compulsion to help people in need,” Phillips said. “But the reality of wanting to help and being a full-time student has its limits.”   Phillips and other medical students decided to join efforts by collecting donations and coordinate other fund-raising efforts for the fall. A musician who plays the double bass, Phillips is currently organizing with students and others in arranging a musical concert/event to benefit the fund and American Red Cross.      “I'm amazed how quickly and efficient Layne, Andrew and the other pharmacy students have successfully coordinated this effort while continuing to raise money,” Phillips said. “I'm impressed with the hard work, leadership and organization and hope it leads to continued success.”      For now, the students will continue to take donations in exchange for wearing a symbolic blue ribbon showing support. As of Sept. 2, the effort collected more than $1,000 in four days. For the next few weeks, participating students will continue to staff a Katrina Relief Fund table at the cafeteria during lunchtime and at several student gathering locations around campus.   For information on the Katrina Relief Fund contact Layne Hepler at Hepler@musc.edu. Katrina tragedy hits home for pharmacy student Pharmacy student Robin Parks can feel the tragic affects of Hurricane Katrina more than 620 miles away. For the past week, Parks, a native of New Orleans, shared a similar reaction of shock, disbelief and anxiety along with the thousands of victims put out by the storm.   On Sept. 2, she heard from close friends, a family desperate to flee the severe, inhabitable conditions of the Crescent City for safer ground. More than 32 hours later, their car journey would take them safely to Charleston.   “It’s been surreal,” Parks said in a telephone interview. “It’s hard for me and my friends to absorb the enormity of this disaster. The reality of it just hasn’t sunk in.”   Her friends, a couple in their 40s and their adult daughter from Jefferson Parish, lost everything to damaging flood waters caused by a breach in the city’s floodwalls.      For now, she’s doing her best to comfort them and provide for their immediate needs. During the Labor Day weekend, they were able to locate the elderly parents of her friend—the mother was flown by medical evacuation from New Orleans to a hospital in Indianapolis. Her husband was sent to a nearby Salvation Army shelter. Parks is working to reunite the family in Charleston.   After the hurricane hit her beloved hometown, Parks has been active talking to students and advocating support for fund-raising efforts led by fellow pharmacy students and the American Red Cross.      “Like many of us, no one believed the worst would happen, but it did,” Parks said. “I love New Orleans and hope that I'll go back there someday. For now, I want to encourage MUSC students and others to find some way to help. Many people lost everything and need to start from scratch. It’s hard to pull up from your boot straps when you don’t have any to pull from.”   Friday, Sept. 9, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.