Nicholls faculty and students are doing their part to help in the continuing effort to return to some level of normalcy following hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Keri Turner, assistant professor of English, is one of the Nicholls faculty members involved in a school supply drive to assist schools damaged by the hurricanes.

The program began with an e-mail from Susan Testroet-Bergeron, formal education coordinator of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program.

“It’s unfortunate because the students were at the point where they had just purchased supplies,” Turner says.

The program will be donating to seven affected schools including, elementary and middle schools.

“We’re helping about 150 classes right now,” Turner says. “I’ve filled up my office and we’ve also filled up another office down the hall.”

In addition to Nicholls faculty, staff, student and other local contributions to the drive, donations are being made from as far as other states.

“People are collecting for us from all over,” Turner says. “It’s amazing how this drive has kicked off.”

One of Turner’s response e-mails came all the way from the University of Arizona, which is currently contributing to the program.

Turner says a large amount of support has come from teachers who can understand the position of the affected students and teachers.

“It’s mostly educators that understand what its like to be without a classroom.” Turner says. “People are really reaching out.”

A collaborative e-mail from both Keri Turner and Susan Testroet-Bergeron was sent to Nicholls students with a list of suggested supplies for the donation.

The supplies requested vary from traditional needs like loose-leaf paper, pencils and binders to educational games and bulletin board materials.