Lipscomb will replace diplomas lost in May floods
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Lipscomb diplomas among items lost in May floods
For more information on replacing damaged or destroyed diplomas click HERE.
When Jon Patterson (’04, ‘07-MBA) saw the waters rising in his backyard on Sunday, May 2, during the historic flooding that devastated the Nashville area, his possessions were the least of his worries. Once the power went out as water neared his Bellevue home in the southwestern section of Nashville, Patterson loaded his two-year-old and two-month-old children and his wife into a family car heading to safety. When the waters receded enough to assess the damage the following Monday, Patterson knew that everything in the crawl space, on the first floor and in the garage had been destroyed.
“We came home to see the damage caused by three feet of water being in our first floor,” Patterson said. “It was overwhelming to see that much damage. With water up to the top of our kitchen counters, we lost all of our food, furniture and appliances in that room, plus everything in our den area and our living spaces downstairs. Our duct work and insulation has to be replaced in the crawl space. We lost one car we left behind in the garage. We had no idea the flooding would be that extensive when we left. There’s a lot of work that has to be done.”
Patterson began the clean-up immediately, pulling out everything destroyed. In doing so, he realized that he lost many possessions with sentimental value, including his two diplomas from Lipscomb University.
“I’m not a materialistic person,” said Patterson. “I’m so thankful that my wife and children are safe. But when you face so much devastation, you wish for some things back. I mentioned to Scott McDowell (vice president for student development / dean of campus life) that I was not able to save my diplomas that had been displayed on a shelf in my den. He assured me that Lipscomb will work with me to replace them. I’m slowly starting to rebuild. I hope to be back in my house in a month or so. I’ll be glad to have all of this behind me.”
Lipscomb University has already committed to being part of the rebuilding process for the city of the Nashville. From hosting a Red Cross shelter for over 400 flood victims to partnering with Madison and Bellevue churches of Christ to provide free counseling services to victims of the recent floods, our University hopes to make a difference. Our administrators, faculty and staff members know, however, that many challenges await our communities as we recover.
For more information on replacing damaged or destroyed diplomas, click HERE.
Lipscomb University partners with Madison and Bellevue churches to provide free counseling services to victims of the recent floods
The Lipscomb Counseling Center includes both graduate students and licensed professionals with training in trauma and loss. Students are supervised by licensed mental health professionals.
Lipscomb counselors will make appointments at:
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Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive (formerly 3901 Granny White Pike), Nashville.
The Madison Church of Christ provides professional counselors and Lipscomb graduate students in its Christian Counseling Center. Madison counselors will make appointments for this location:
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Madison Church of Christ, 106 Gallatin Pike North, Madison
Referrals to other local resources will be made as necessary, and services from those referral agencies are not guaranteed to be free of cost.
Please call 615-860-3286 for information or to schedule your appointment.
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Photo by John Partipilo, Tennessean photographer |
Lipscomb, Service International partnered to recruit flood clean-up volunteers
Leaders from Service International (SI), a non-profit disaster relief organization headquartered in Chesterfield, Mo., partnered with Lipscomb University and several Nashville churches to provide clean-up efforts for residents whose homes had been damaged by the flood.
SI was founded in 1993 and has since provided disaster clean-up services around the world including during the 2005 Katrina clean up. Lipscomb will provide housing for what is expected to be more than 80 out-of-state SI-trained and experienced volunteer leaders.
About Service International
In 1993, the headquarters of St. Louis Family Church and Service International (SI) were flooded along with the rest of the Chesterfield Valley, SI spearheaded the clean up, coordinating 8,000 volunteers and providing financial and material resources. Out of that personal disaster, SI developed an effective recovery plan to help communities in crisis.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, SI coordinated more than 6,000 volunteers from 42 states — including volunteer teams from 77 different organizations — to remove debris, clear out mud and muck, and clean and restore 883 sites and projects across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to SI's relief work in Nashville, visit www.serviceinternational.org.