PirateQ 
PSC’s Jay Collette, Johnny Davison, Lynsey Listau and Andrea Krieger at the Walmart Supercenter on Creighton Road.
In response to the impact of Hurricane Isaias on the Gulf Coast, the Walmart Foundation, Gulf Winds Credit Union, Phoenix Coatings and the Florida College System Foundation have provided $17,500 in disaster-relief donations to the Pensacola State College Foundation to assist PSC students and employees affected by the storm.
The Walmart Foundation donated $5,000 in Walmart gift cards, which were used to purchase non-perishable food and essential hygiene supplies, including shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, diapers and more, for distribution through the Pirates CARE student support and resource program.
“This support is intended to help the PSC Foundation respond to needs following Hurricane Isaias through Pirates CARE, including food and other basic necessities for the roughly 1,100 students and 400 staff across PSC’s campuses who have been affected by the storm,” said Marvin Carr-Ligons, Walmart’s senior director of Community Resilience. “We are grateful for the opportunity to stand with Pensacola State College during this difficult time.”
On Friday, Oct. 16, PSC team members used the Walmart donation to purchase the supplies, and recovery kits have since been assembled for distribution at campus events beginning Wednesday, Oct. 21, on the Milton campus.
“The Pirates CARE team has been receiving phone calls and emails from students who have been impacted by the hurricane. Several students have shared that they have been displaced from housing; others shared that they were unable to work for multiple days due to the storm, causing financial hardship; and others have told us about all the food they lost and their lack of hot meals,” said PSC Dean of Students Lynsey Listau. “Through these donations and the other services the Pirates CARE team provides, such as our campus food pantries, our clothing closets and our connections to community resources, we are working to provide support to students following the storm so they can continue to focus on academic success.”
Walmart associates Maria Solis, Adazsha Lee, Cheyanne Kramer and Tyrike Williams gathered and helped load supplies for PSC Pirates CARE hurricane recovery kits.
An additional $5,000 from Gulf Winds Credit Union, $5,000 from Phoenix Coatings and $2,500 from the Florida College System Foundation are also supporting the PSC Pirates CARE hurricane relief efforts.
“We’re thankful for these generous partners who show up for our community when it’s needed most,” said PSC Executive Director of Institutional Development Andrea Krieger. “Together, we’re helping our PSC family recover, rebuild and move forward.”
Krieger also expressed appreciation to local Walmart associates for their hands-on assistance.
“We want to especially thank store manager Michael Kraft and his team at the Walmart on Creighton Road for their kindness and help in gathering and loading the supplies,” she said.
“It felt good to shop for those in need,” said Walmart associate Cheyanne Kramer, who helped gather supplies for the PSC relief effort. “We hope this helps them get a little bit of comfort in this tough time,” added associate Maria Solis.
Distribution of recovery resources is one example of the ways the college and community have come together in the hurricane’s aftermath.
The PSC Pirates Baseball team has volunteered in local neighborhoods to assist with storm cleanup efforts, and Pirates CARE food pantries and clothing closets resumed operations as soon as the college reopened following the storm on Oct. 16.
Unexpected challenges can derail a student’s education. Through the Pirates CARE Emergency Assistance Fund, PSC students facing crises can receive vital support, including food assistance, emergency housing support, gas and transportation assistance and connections to community resources. To contribute, visit foundation.pensacolastate.edu/online-giving/student-relief.