FERRUM COLLEGE TSUNAMI RELIEF CAMPAIGN TIED TO CLASS

     Ferrum College will embark on an institution-wide campaign for tsunami relief effort funds that will be integrated into the Religion course Understanding Mission: A Biblical Perspective. Money will be donated through a special fund established by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) which will guarantee every dollar goes to relief and recovery efforts in South Asia. Ferrum is making this its major relief effort in hopes to consolidate efforts and mobilize the Ferrum College community to assist in the aftermath of the South Asia tragedies.

      Dr. Jennifer Braaten, Ferrum College President said, “We join with the world in praying for victims of the disastrous tsunamis in South Asia.”

      “I have been in touch with UMCOR and they are saying that funding is desperately needed since there are so many needs facing the people at this time,” said Dean of the Chapel & Religious Life, the Reverend Wes Astin. “We hope this will be a two to three week campaign and I hope you will be supportive of our students when asked to give.”

      As students return to campus on Monday, January 10, the course REL 207: Understanding Mission: A Biblical Perspective will organize the campaign as its first project and begin soliciting donations campus wide. Those wishing to contribute outside of campus should contact UMCOR via their website below or through the Chaplain’s Office at (540) 365-4286.

      For more information or to donate via Ferrum’s campaign, contact Rev. Wes Astin, Ferrum College Chaplain at (540) 365-4286.

      The United Methodist Committee on Relief is the not-for-profit international humanitarian aid organization of The United Methodist Church, active in many parts of the world bringing hope, providing relief from hunger and disasters, and teaching peace. More information on UMCOR’s South Asia aid efforts are available online at: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/southasia.stm. General information about UMCOR can be found online at this address: http://www.umcor.org.

     Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu.