AMES, Iowa -- New Iowa State students who wish to strengthen the ties between Ames and ISU can take part in disaster relief training with the city's Red Cross.
"This program is being introduced this year because of the current political and weather realities," said Debra Sanborn, acting program director of New Student Programs at ISU.
"We offer programs every year to help strengthen the ties with the community," she said. "And adding this disaster relief component just made good sense."
Training will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at Reiman Gardens on the ISU campus and will include a real-life scenario.
"We will do an exercise in which the students will complete an activity filling sandbags and building a retaining wall in case of an actual flood emergency," said Sue North, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Story County, the organization conducting the training.
The disaster relief training is being added to more than 20 options presented to incoming students as a way to get involved with the Ames community, the students' home for four or more years. Other activities include volunteering at places such as the Ames Animal Shelter, Heartland Senior Services, Eagles' Loft Children's Center and others.
The disaster relief program is open to as many as 100 student participants, while Sanborn expects about 700 to take part in all the activities.
People interested in volunteering with the Red Cross can contact www.volunteerstorycounty.org.