West Virginia University students and employees can help support relief efforts for Marshall University and WVU students displaced by recent fires.

Members of WVU s Student Government Association (SGA) are collecting financial donations and gift cards for students affected by the Jan. 13 Emmons Jr. apartment fire in Huntington and the Jan. 17 apartment fire at 40 Jones Ave. in Morgantown.

Donations may be dropped off from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Student Organization Services Office in theLair and the Student Health Advisory Board Office G281A at Student Health Service, next to the Health Sciences Center cafeteriaor mailed to: SHOP (Students Helping Other People), P.O. Box 6444, Morgantown, WV 26506 .

Cash and checks made payable to SHOP , as well as gift cards for grocery stores and discount retailers in Huntington, will be accepted through the end of today (Jan. 26).

In addition to donations, SGA members will deliver a card of support on behalf of WVU students, faculty and staff to Marshall students, said Kristin Margolin, SGA communications director and project co-coordinator.

This is not a time to be rivals,said Lisa Costello, SGA chief-of-staff and project co-coordinator.Just as we helped the people displaced by Hurricane Katrina, we want to help our fellow students.

This is an opportunity for students to give if they want to,Costello added.Marshall is our peer institution, and we just want to provide any support we can. If a similar situation happened to our students, we know that they would support us.

The fire at the Emmons Jr. apartment building claimed the lives of nine people, including three MU students. According to news reports, about a dozen students have been relocated to Marshalls residence halls. Others are staying with family and friends.

Meanwhile, the Jan. 17 four-alarmblaze displaced six WVU students from their Morgantown apartment building.

If people have questions about how they can help, Costello encouraged them to e-mail shopwvu@gmail.com