July 30, 2001
MELISSA MURRELL, a Dallas Baptist University senior, gives crackers to children living in a broken-down apartment complex. She was among nine DBU students who took food and water to the tenants, who did not have water for more than a month. (Photos by John Hall)
DBU students rally to support
residents of troubled complex
___By John Hall
___Staff Writer
___DALLAS--A group of Dallas Baptist University students took water and food July 25 to residents of an apartment complex that has 200 building code violations and did not have running water for about a month.
___The nine students drove a vanload of bottled water, candy, crackers and moving boxes to the Emmanuel Apartments. They handed out the supplies and spent time with thechildren of the complex.
WILL CAFFEY spends time with a youth at the aprtment complex.
___Adam Wright, student body president at DBU, said he saw a story about the complex on the news and spread word that he wanted to help the people there. Quickly afterward, people were coming to him asking to help.
___"We want to show that we care," Wright said. "We have a concern about these people, and most of all, we want to help in anyway we can."
___Several of the students were members of a leadership class taught by Blair Blackburn, DBU senior vice president.
___"This provided an immediate need with no organized response," Blackburn said. "It is an opportunity to put into practice the servant leadership that is taught in the classroom."
___The water had been turned off because the owner of the apartments, Autumn Traylor, did not pay the entire water bill. A judge ordered the water to be turned on July 17, saying no one should live in such bad conditions. He also gave receivership to a non-profit group that works with dilapidated complexes.
___The code violations include broken windows, bad wiring and plumbing, improper air conditioning installation and some of the units not being handicap-accessible.
___Many of the tenants have moved to other residences. The city has offered families a $125 incentive to move to a newly remodeled complex, but some of the people said they cannot afford the rent at the new complex, where they would have to pay $160 more a month. Those who do not move will remain in the apartments.
___
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
