Four LIT faculty members fuel one of “largest single donations” to Golden Triangle Coast Guard unit

1/29/2019

attachment image- Four LIT faculty members fuel one of “largest single donations” to Golden Triangle Coast Guard unit

Beaumont – Thanks to a momentous effort by Lamar Institute of Technology Public Speaking Faculty Member Donna Burnside, two-and-a-half truckloads of items were collected and donated in January for furloughed federal workers.

The donation, through the Golden Triangle Chapter, Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA), a nonprofit organization, is “one of the largest single donations at any given time from one specific organization,” said Christie Hamilton, Command Senior Chief for the Marine Safety Unit of the CPOA, Port Arthur.
Burnside enlisted the help of her students and three other LIT faculty members to help those affected by the government shutdown: Johnny Pousson from Computer Drafting Technology, Stanley Spooner and Brent Campbell from Technology.

Burnside began the civic engagement project for her students with a collection drop box. After she reached out to Sam’s Club in Beaumont, her apartment complex in Nederland, Avenue Apartments, and Nederland Church of Christ, interest in the project mushroomed.

Sam’s Club donated water, detergent and paper towels. Burnside and her class collected other donations outside the retailer on Friday morning.

Hamilton recalled that Interest within the Golden Triangle area grew so fast and donations came in so steadily two weeks ago that the pantry quickly outgrew its storage room, overflowing two designated tables. “The last two weeks, the community has been amazing with their support,” Hamilton said.

Although a bill has passed to temporarily end the government shutdown, people may still make donations on campus at Building T5, Room 103 or email her at dburnside@lit.edu.