The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Relief Project Receives Tremendous Support
7/12/2011 | Rebel Ready
July 12, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - Following a huge turnout this past Sunday at the Oxford Walmart, the Rebel Relief Project now prepares for its trip on Tuesday, July 19, to Smithville, Miss.
Ole Miss athletics director Pete Boone, football coach Houston Nutt and other coaches and athletics personnel will make the trip on Tuesday to drop off the collected items for Smithville and surrounding areas that were hit hard by tornadoes in April.
On Sunday, over 100 volunteers helped collect items for the drive at Walmart. Among the volunteers were participants in the Ole Miss Ladies' Football Forum, athletics department personnel, the Rebel volleyball team and quarterbacks and receivers from the football team.
"We packed the team's 18-wheeler," said Chyna Ward-Poley, coordinator of the Ladies' Football Forum group that has spearheaded the Rebel Relief Project. "I never knew how many people come through one door of Walmart during a day. It was kind of overwhelming."
Even after Sunday's massive response, donations will still be accepted this Saturday from 7 a.m.-noon at the Indoor Practice Facility on campus. Ward-Poley said the most helpful donations at this point are gift certificates from stores like Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's and Fred's.
"We have so many clothes and diapers and things now," she said. "We really need gift certificates. The most important thing is to write on the gift certificate how much it is worth."
