The Iota Omega chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and the Epsilon Psi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at the University of Missouri-Rolla are collecting toys, clothing, hair care products and more for New Orleans families.

The collections will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7-9 in the atrium of the Havener Center on the UMR campus. The Covenant Praise Church of God in Cuba, Mo., will deliver the gifts to the Ninth Ward of New Orleans later this month.

Baskets for girls will include hair care products, especially those made for curly hair. Clothing in good condition will be wrapped and given as gifts also. Gloves and boots – desperately needed for doing cleanup work – are sought as well.

These people have lost everything due to the hurricanes that destroyed their city,” says Erick Richardson of Florissant, Mo., a senior in electrical engineering at UMR. “You can play a part in blessing some people less fortunate this holiday season by bringing gifts for the families in New Orleans. Basically, bring anything that you think would brighten up the kids of New Orleans.”

For more information, contact Richardson at (314) 265-8140 or erick.richardson@mst.edu ; Reginald Epps at (314) 882-5278 or rjedh9@mst.edu ; Beth Dotson at (573) 647-6388 or bethdotson@hotmail.com ; or the Covenant Praise Church of God at (573) 885-2614.