Nearly nine months ago tragedy struck in Charleston, S.C. when nine individuals were gunned down at Emmanuel African Methodist Church.
Several months later floods broke out across Columbia, destroying homes and wiping out communities. To the rest of the nation, these events—though devastating—are in the past, but South Carolina residents are still recovering from the tragedies.
Members of Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Student Fellowship are joining University Ministries associate Katie Barrett Todd in South Carolina during their spring break to spend their week assisting with flood relief and participating in civil rights conversations.
Todd said students wanted to play a role in the state's recovery and take a hands-on approach in doing so. They will spend the week rebuilding houses in areas devastated by the flood. They will also visit Emmanuel African Methodist Church where they will participate in civil rights conversations.
Todd noted the students' eagerness to spend their time helping others and learning about the surrounding world.
"I'm impressed by their caliber for learning history—that they want to learn about the history and culture," said Todd.
While the group will immerse themselves in the world around them one project at a time, they will also be searching for experiences to bring back to campus.
“We want to implement our experiences in South Carolina at Nebraska Wesleyan," said Todd.
The students will be recognized by the South Carolina Legislature in the House of Representatives on March 10 for their service in the state.