Fairmont State Students Lend Hand for Flood Recovery

Within hours of the weekend flooding that left much of Mannington under water, Fairmont State University's Student Government Association organized a campus drop-off location for cleaning supplies. Several carloads were taken to a clearing house, combined with other donations from across the region to help those impacted by the worst flooding in Marion County since the 1980s.

More than 500 homes suffered water damage, with approximately 35 homes as of now being considered a total loss. 

The giving continued by Fairmont State students through acts of service this week as a group headed to Mannington to help a local resident clean her property.  Members of FSU's Student Government joined forces with their counterparts from West Virginia University to assist in flood recovery.

The FSU group helped resident Donna Parish remove damaged items from her property., clean and mow the lawn.

"It was a very rewarding experience to help Ms. Parish and she was very grateful that we were there," said Shawn Ragsdale, Coordinator of Student Activities. "Seeing the damage that the flood caused in Mannington and the surrounding areas was an awakening for me personally. Seeing things first hand made me realize how destructive floods can be and how crucial the help is from the local community.  Its times like these where our services and priorities need to be refocused to make sure that we take care of our neighbors."

"Volunteering is a way to prepare students for lives of engaged citizenship – increasing their motivation and capacity to deliberate, act, and lead," said Kelli Jo McNemar, WVU's Campus Compact Director.