STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern University and the GS Athletics Department will be collecting donations at upcoming home sporting events and at drop-off locations on campus to help with the relief efforts stemming from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. GS Athletics will be asking patrons to join this effort during football, men's soccer and women's soccer home games until Oct. 18 by bringing items to those events and donating them to the cause. The items collected will be shipped off on Oct. 19 in Georgia Southern's 18-wheeler used for football, the day after the Eagles' home football game against New Mexico State. The goal is to #FillTheTruck and show the true meaning of GATA (Giving Aid Through Athletics).

Items Being Collected:
Packaged items:
underwear (men, women, children)
diapers and pull-ups
toilet paper and paper towels
wipes for babies and adults
toiletries packaged
antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, shampoo, body wash
toothbrushes and toothpaste
canned foods (pop tops preferred)
ready-to-eat dry goods (nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, dried fruit, jerky)
laundry detergent, general cleaner, sponges, mops, scrub brushes
bottled water (cases preferred)
first-aid items (bandages, gauze, pads, first aid tape, hydrogen peroxide, latex gloves)
blankets, pillows, towels

Monetary donations will also be accepted.

"Our hearts are with those affected by the hurricanes," said Tom Kleinlein, Athletic Director at Georgia Southern. "This is a time for us all to come together to help out those whose lives have been turned upside down. My hope is that Eagle Nation will contribute and we all can impact lives that have been affected by this devastation."

This cause is a significant one for several Georgia Southern student-athletes as they hail from the Greater Houston area. The student-athletes at Georgia Southern find it particularly meaningful to be able to directly help someone with such a close tie to this university.

For football games, the athletic department will be driving around selected tailgating parking lots collecting these items so patrons don't have to carry them to the gates. Bins are also located at the soccer field for drop-off. Georgia Southern student-athletes will be at each home game collecting items for the effort. Georgia Southern is asking the fans of both teams to give generously for such an important cause.

Dates
Football – Sept. 9; Oct. 4; Oct. 14
Women's Soccer – Sept. 29; Oct. 1; Oct. 15
Men's Soccer – Sept. 4, 10, 16, 23; Oct. 7

For those who cannot make it to one of the above listed sporting events, beginning Sept. 5 through Oct. 18, donations may be dropped off at the Bishop Alumni Center, 1801 Akins Boulevard, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or at the Cowart Athletics Ticket Office, 203 Lanier Drive, during normal business hours.