Project Reach Donates After Tornado

Harrisburg after the tornado. (Abel Uribe, Chicago Tribune)

On February 29, 2012, Harrisburg, Illinois was hit by a tornado that swept through three states, leaving much destruction in its wake. IACAC decided to do something to help this small town in southern Illinois. One of the seven District Seminars, held at Rend Lake College, used the seminar as an opportunity to bring to light the struggles of this town after the tornado.  Professional Development director, Meghan Cooley said, “Not 24 hours after the tornado hit, Annette Braden was thinking of ways to help. She contacted the Project Reach team to find out if the donations collected at the event could have an immediate impact. And they did…the attendees at the Southern District seminar sent a huge tub of supplies, a large quantity of backpacks and monetary donations home with district seminar attendee, Glen McKinstry, a counselor at Harrisburg High School. I am impressed with Annette and her team’s foresight, the generosity of seminar attendees and the immediacy of responses from the Project Reach team.”

Donations of school supplies and college counseling materials for Project Reach will be accepted at the Annual Conference.

Meghan Cooley
Augustana College

Megan O’Rourke
Butler University