NATCHEZ &045; While other college students might be concentrating solely on the class project, part-time job or social function, Sarah Powers of Natchez, a junior at Mississippi State University, has been concentrating on those in need.

Powers and fellow student Emily Parsons were inspired to start a supply drive at that university when they realized many other students in the College of Architecture were from the Gulf Coast.

&uot;They lost everything they had,&uot; Powers said.

Besides, Parsons said, watching evacuees on television made them want to do something &045; anything &045; to help them.

&uot;It’s just so overwhelming,&uot; said Parsons, whose uncle, Danny Parsons, lives in Natchez.

&uot;We needed to do something. My heart just goes out to those people.

&uot;We’re poor college students, so we didn’t have money to give. So we looked in our closets and cupboards and gave what we could. It’s not much, but every little bit makes a difference.&uot;

Actually, the &uot;little bits&uot; of relief items students dropped off at the College of Architecture’s building turned out to be enough to fill an entire panel van.

They and other students brought the van down this weekend to Concordia Parish, where they unloaded it at the community center shelter near Ferriday.

The clothes were taken to St. Mary Basilica for distribution to shelters; other items were kept at the community center near Ferriday for distribution.

Parsons said the outpouring of support from State students surprised her &045; in a very good way.

&uot;It’s enough to make you cry,&uot; she said. &uot;I never expected it.&uot;