{"id":91402,"date":"2018-10-17T10:50:44","date_gmt":"2018-10-17T14:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=91402"},"modified":"2022-03-03T16:08:50","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T21:08:50","slug":"campus-rallies-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/campus-rallies-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Campus Rallies Support for Communities Affected by Hurricane Michael"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following Hurricane Michael\u2019s<\/a> devastation to the Florida Panhandle and southeastern United States, UCF has pitched in to statewide recovery efforts to support the affected communities and begin the rebuilding process.<\/p>\n

The UCF Student Union hosted a relief drive Oct. 12\u201315 and received an assortment of donated items, including nonperishable food, water and clothes from students and the community.<\/p>\n

The drive was part of a larger local effort organized by Gray\/Robinson law firm, which partnered with Sorensen Moving and Storage for a delivery truck, Centerplate food and beverage corporation for pallets of water and food, and UCF. The firm posted regular updates to its Facebook page on its journey to hard-hit Port St. Joe, which is nearly 100 miles southwest of Tallahassee and just 12 miles from Mexico Beach, where the storm first made landfall.<\/p>\n

UCF President<\/a> Dale Whittaker tweeted a message of gratitude for the generous support and quick turnaround to ensure the supplies could help those in need in a timely manner.<\/p>\n

UCF Police Commander Scott Freeman \u201911<\/strong> is leading a group of three other officers who traveled to the Panhandle to volunteer in conjunction with the Florida Police Chiefs Association. Their current mission is to provide security at a law enforcement annex and maintain the safekeeping of the weapons and equipment that the facility stores.<\/p>\n

Another team of four UCFPD officers is expected to deploy Friday to relieve the current team.<\/p>\n