West Liberty, Kentucky is a town that shares our name, and its size is approximately that of our community. Like us, the 3,000 residents of this small eastern Kentucky town were going about their daily business last Thursday – working, going to school, playing sports. By Friday evening, however, much of their town was gone…wiped out by the swath of vicious tornadoes that left destruction throughout several states.
West Liberty University is assembling a multi-point effort to help the tornado victims in our “sister city.” Vice President for Community Engagement Jeff Knierim is coordinating the university’s response, which is planned to include a Spring Break work team, fundraising, small business support, and more.
The first priority is to assemble a work team of students and faculty willing to share a small portion of their Spring Break to help people in need. The team will leave in university vans for Kentucky on Wednesday, March 14 at 6:00 a.m. and return Friday evening, March 16. The planning committee is currently securing housing and food for the work team. Interested students and faculty should contact Jeff Knierim, jknierim@westliberty.edu, 304-780-7315 or SGA President David Syrylo, dsyrylo@westliberty.edu, 304-374-5915 by this Sunday, March 11, to sign up or get more information. If you have a particular skill set, please let us know so we can give the relief organizers advance notice so they can assign you accordingly upon arrival in Kentucky. Examples: Construction skills (roofing, electrical, plumbing), spiritual counseling, food preparation, equipment operator (chainsaw, backhoe), data base skills, etc.
More details on ways to donate or help the West Liberty2 effort will be announced shortly.