Josh Fields/Arizona Daily Wildcat Pre-nursing junior Jean Weber and physiological sciences sophomore Heather Froeschle hand-wash a car at Circle K on North Park Avenue and East Speedway Boulevard. The women's lacrosse team held a carwash Saturday afternoon to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.

UA- and Tucson-area organizations are seeking ways to raise money, collect clothes and donate blood to the people suffering through the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Whether students have friends and family affected by the hurricane or are victims firsthand, help can be seen all across the UA campus.

The women's lacrosse team raised more than $600 Saturday in a three-hour car wash at the Circle K on East Speedway Boulevard and North Park Avenue, said Dannah G. Raz, team president.

Though weather conditions were less than favorable, drivers said stopping for the cause was more important than the possibility of rain dampening the team's efforts.

Christopher Violett, a musical theatre sophomore, donated $10 and said he felt good donating money because it was the least he could do other than being in New Orleans helping out firsthand.

"Every penny they get can get used some way," Violett said. "I sympathize with the victims, and I hope more people can get out and do their part. It's a really sad situation."

President Peter Likins also came to the car wash and gave a "generous donation," Raz said.

Raz, a psychology sophomore, said the idea for the event came when she watched the events unfold on TV and determined the team should have a fundraiser to help the victims rather than one that typically benefits the team.

"People lost so much unexpectedly and it's our duty to do whatever we can to help them," Raz said.

All the proceeds from the event will go to help the victims of the hurricane through the Red Cross, Raz said.

Campus-area medical and religious centers are also contributing to the disaster relief.

University Medical Center's approximately 3,400 full- and part-time employees have donated $9,000 to the American Red Cross in the hospital's dollar-for-dollar matching fund-drive to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina, said Katie Riley, associate director for UMC.

UMC President Greg Pivirotto announced Thursday that the hospital would match staff donations to the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund up to $25,000, for a potential UMC gift of $50,000. The pledge drive runs through Sept. 14.

The UA Hillel Foundation is encouraging donations to the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Hurricane Katrina Fund to raise emergency support for those touched by the calamity.

"We want to show a strong, unified statement of support from the campus Jewish community and the broader Tucson community," said UA Hillel Foundation Executive Director Michelle Blumenberg in an e-mail.

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona has set up an emergency mailbox to collect funds for the relief efforts, said Stuart Mellan, president and CEO.

Mellan said he hopes the federation can raise $100,000 to mirror the local efforts raised for the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia in December. He said those interested in donating can visit www.jewishtucson.org.

ASUA President Cade Bernsen said students have been contacting ASUA about what they can do to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. So far, Bernsen said he has spoken with the Alumni Association and is meeting with Likins and Provost George Davis this week to coordinate something in conjunction with the athletic department.

Last week, ASUA Sen. Jami Reinsch said ASUA's tentative plans are to collect monetary donations on the UA Mall for a three-week period Monday through Friday. She said ASUA also plans to set up boxes in residence halls and in sororities and fraternities for items to be donated to World Care.

"We really want to make this a big thing," said Reinsch, a media arts sophomore. "I think students would respond well to something of this magnitude."

Bernsen said ASUA is trying to figure out how to get blood donation trucks to come to campus and plans to collect money by putting containers around campus.

"It seems to me that there are a lot of groups that want to contribute by raising

money, collecting bottled water or donating blood," said Bernsen, a political science senior. "We're trying to coordinate it all so that it's one big effort on behalf of U of A to help those people."

Growing up close to the areas affected by the hurricane, Bernsen said he knew from firsthand experience that the poor minorities who make up a large chunk of the region's population didn't have the means or the willpower to leave.

"They can't afford to shack up in a hotel because all they have is what is in their

house," Bernsen said. "I knew there were going to be a lot of people that do evacuate but there were also going to be a lot that say 'No, this is all I have, this house and what's in it,' and so they stay."

Campus Life Vice President Saundra Taylor said she is also working with financial aid, the Provost's Office and retention services in contacting all UA students from the three states affected by the hurricane.

"The Dean of Students Office is asking those individuals who have close, regular contact with students across campus to help us determine what needs students from the affected areas, or students who have relatives in those areas, may have, so we may respond accordingly," said Taylor in a university-wide e-mail last week.

The Office of Community Relations also posted a list of national and local organizations through which immediate and direct contributions can be made. They include the Federal Emergency Management Association and the Tucson-based agency World Care, 320 S. Wilmot Road.