USM Fraternities Join Forces to Help Flood Victims

Just as they were wading into a new school year, members of several fraternities from The University of Southern Mississippi made time to help people in neighboring Louisiana recover and rebuild from August's historic flooding.

More than 60,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and 13 people died in the flood waters that soaked the southeastern portion of the state. The flooding also affected parts of southwest Mississippi.

Students in the USM chapters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Delta Tau Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Phi and Kappa Sigma went out into neighborhoods in the Baton Rouge area to remove furniture, tear out walls, rip up carpet, remove sheetrock, pull out cabinets and haul away debris from residences.

Jacob Garrett, a USM Honors College student and healthcare marketing major from Zachary, La. is president of the Southern Miss Interfraternity Council. He and other fraternity members helped gut two homes in nearby Denham Springs.

“Coming to Southern Miss three years ago, I never expected to return home under such circumstances,” he said. “But bringing a group fraternity guys to my area to help out people we had never met before, and it being so close to home, will be something I remember for a very long time.”

The effort was especially meaningful for Charles Childress, director of USM's Office of Greek Life and a native of New Orleans. He accompanied the fraternity brothers and lent a helping hand as well.

“Seeing the devastation first hand was truly heart-wrenching. My own house was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, so it was humbling to work with a family to help them recover,” Childress said.

The IFC has also conducted a supply drive (school supplies and computer games, among other items) and worked with Oak Grove Family Dentistry and Varsity Spirit out of Memphis to donate more than 8 pallets of a variety of other commodities for flood victims in Mississippi and Louisiana. 

Baton Rouge residents Leigh Anne White and Cheryl Beatty praised the fraternity brothers for coming to their aid. “They were so respectful,” White said. “They not only helped us clean up but dried tears, gave hugs and offered consolation. God sent them exactly where they were needed, and right on time.”

“The impact of the generosity and compassion of these young men will be felt and remembered for years to come,” Beatty said. “They served as great ambassadors for their University.” 

To learn about USM Greek Life, visit https://www.usm.edu/greek-life.