Regent Students and Operation Blessing Bring Disaster Relief Kits to Victims of Hurricane Idalia
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (August 30, 2023) – Hundreds of Regent University students joined Operation Blessing in providing survival essentials to the Florida disaster victims pummeled by Hurricane Idalia.
“Regent students packed hundreds of disaster relief kits that will be transported to ground zero in Florida and distributed to individuals and families in need,” said Drew Friedrich, Chief Operating Officer at Operation Blessing International. “We are grateful that Regent students generously volunteered to help those impacted by Hurricane Idalia.”
The students packed the 792 disaster relief kits during Regent University’s Welcome Week orientation event, held for first-time freshmen and transfer students.
Each kit consists of a five-gallon bucket that includes the following essentials:
- 1 roll of contractor bags
- 1 roll of paper towels
- 1 canister of Clorox wipes
- 1 bottle of cleaning spray
- 1 8-oz. bottle of hand sanitizer
- 2 N95 face masks
- 2 pairs of gloves
- 2 scour pads
“I wanted to serve in the relief efforts because I believe 100% in Regent University’s motto—Christian Leadership to Change the World,” said Petra Bailor, a senior in communications at Regent and campus event support. “To lead is to serve others—and by participating in a service project as vital as this one, Regent students got the opportunity to experience what our school is truly about.”
The truck carrying the relief kits is expected to arrive at Operation Blessing International in Ocala, FL, on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
If you are interested in supporting Operation Blessing’s relief efforts or volunteering your time, visit ob.org/donate or email volunteer@ob.org.
About Regent University
Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university, with more than 13,000 students studying on its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online around the world. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the #1 Best Accredited Online College in the United States (Study.com, 2020), the #1 Safest College Campus in Virginia (YourLocalSecurity, 2021), and the #1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 11 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2023).
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