Hurricane Helene prompted the cancellation of an in-person fundraiser, but organizers converted it to an online event to help students.
The Aiken Technical College Foundation sponsors an annual scholarship and fundraiser. It had been set for Oct. 17, but the event was transformed to raising money for the Student Emergency Support Fund. The original event included a raffle.
“So what we decided to do is we had these wonderful items donated to our raffle that we said, ‘Well, hey, we can still go ahead and have an online raffle and leave it open for a month where people, students, faculty, staff, people in the community everywhere could buy raffle tickets online for numerous packages that we had put together,’” Mary Commons, Interim Foundation Director told ABD.
Businesses from Floyd and Green Fine Jewelers to Lionel Smith, Ltd. and Plum Pudding provided items ranging from jewelry to a basket of jams, salsas, and salad dressing, a certificate for a “Sock of the Month” and an entertainment package with two tickets to performances by the Aiken Community Theater, Aiken Symphony, and Aiken Performing Arts.
Commons said the Foundation has never had to cancel an event of this size.
“So, we went into the mode of how do we cancel this event and still raise money for our students? And we figured that the student emergency fund is something that the students can use in addition to those being impacted by Hurricane Helene,” she said.
The emergency support fund can help students with needs ranging from housing to utilities and food that may threaten their ability to remain in school.
“We do have some students on campus, not a large percent, thank God for that, but we do have some students on campus that are homeless,” said Crystal Edwards, Dean of Student Success and Retention. “The foundation agreed to support those students to try to find affordable housing or get a hotel for a couple of nights or food. When a student is able to get a couple of nights rest, or they’re able to get their tummy filled, then they’re able to exceed academically, after those basic needs are met.”
At Aiken Tech, as is the case with all technical colleges and universities, students are the so-called “non-traditional” students. They are older, some juggling a job and family while trying to go to school.
“We know technical education students, that most of them are taking classes so that they can go straight to work,” said Edwards. “So, when that pathway has been interrupted by something like a hurricane, then much more for technical education students, it’s a little bit more drastic, because they’re looking for that short-term way to get to employment, so that they can build a life for them and their families.”
She said some students may be forced to resign before completing their education. This is what the school is trying to avoid.
Commons said in addition to items for the raffle, there was money collected through sponsorship and the sale of tickets. No one requested a refund, so they have already collected $17,600 for the emergency fund.
“The raffle goes until November 14, so we will add to that, and it will help our students recover from this horrible disaster. Nobody ever expected a hurricane to hit this area,” she said. “This is something we felt we could put into place immediately and have the funds available for those that are in need.”
Students can apply on the Aiken Tech website at
https://www.atc.edu/Foundation/Scholarships/StudentEmergencyFund
A student can receive a one-time stipend of up to $250.00.
Information about the items being raffled is online at http://www.atc.edu/foundation/events
