Bloomsburg University Athletes to Assist in Hurricane Relief Efforts

BLOOMSBURG- Bloomsburg University's Athletes in Action (AIA) group is traveling to New Orleans for the 2006 Spring Break to assist with the Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts.

There are 31 students, including six student-athletes, making the trip and volunteering their time to help clean out houses, rebuild schools and universities, as well as serve meals to over 2,000 people a day. Wynton Shelton (Chester/ Penncrest), Matt Freedman (Holland/ Council Rock South), Matt Bosso (Camp Hill/ Cedar Cliff), and Kyle Ream (Elliotsburg/ West Perry) of the football team along with Angela Brown (Sparta, NJ/ Sparta) and Becky Ritter (Phillipsburg/ Phillipsburg-Osceola) of the women's soccer team will be the six student-athletes making the trip. The students will be staying in climate control tents that hold between 50-100 people.

"We want to help other people out in their time of need," said Ritter. "I feel that it is going to be a very eye opening experience. I think as a group, we will see how lucky we are and come to realize the things we take for granted everyday. We should be thankful for them."

If anyone would like to help with the relief efforts, they can donate "gift cards" to national chains like Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal-Mart or Target so that people can buy what is needed. People can make a monetary donation or they can donate blankets, men's jeans, shirts, socks and work boots. If you would like to make a donation please contact Becky Ritter at bu_AIA@yahoo.com.

Athletes in Action is a worldwide organization of Christian athletes founded in 1966.