Blood drives, concerts, rubber bracelets, benefit lunches and a campus challenge are part of a mounting effort by Ball State University to raise funds to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Since the hurricane slammed into the Gulf Coast Aug. 29, campus groups and individuals have staged fund-raising events with the total raised now surpassing several thousand dollars. A major push on campus began this week with the start of a competition between organizations to raise the most money. The competition runs through Sept. 23.

"The Ball State community responded with its characteristic sense of urgency and caring," said Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora, who will host a dinner for the organization that wins the campus challenge. "As soon as the widespread nature of the destruction became apparent, individual students and student groups began proposing ways to raise money for the storm's victims."

The Office of Leadership and Service Learning (LSL) is serving as the official Red Cross donation site for the university. Office staff and students from Student Voluntary Services also are coordinating events over the next several weeks to raise funds for the Red Cross' hurricane relief program.

"Since the office was designated a Red Cross site, we've been answering hundreds of phones calls and e-mails from students, faculty and staff who want to help," said Kathy Smith, LSL associate director. "The outpouring of support has been incredible. We had one man who wrote us a personal check for $500 and told us he was sorry that was all he could give.

"At this point, we've only touched the surface of the campus community's generosity," she said. "So far, only a few of the organizations have turned in their donations. We expect the final total to be much higher."

Individuals, groups, and campus organizations planning a relief program should contact LSL at (765) 285-3476. LSL is working directly with the Red Cross to process cash donations. Additional information about the process may be found online at www.bsu.edu/lsl.

LSL is also selling rubber bracelets with the inscription "Hurricane Relief" for $2. The proceeds are going to the Red Cross, and the bracelets may be picked up at the LSL's office, L.A. Pittenger Student Center, room 118.

"Rubber bracelets are still incredibly popular," Smith said. "Bracelets are a gentle reminder of what has happened to our country and how we can still help."

Many Katrina relief events can be found on the university calendar, which can be accessed by clicking on the "calendar" tab in the upper right-hand corner of any page on the official university Web site or by going to www.bsu.edu/calendar. To add an event, contact the LSL staff at (765) 285-3476.

A summary of campus efforts is online at www.bsu.edu/web/news/extra/hurricanerelief.