Jackson State University’s (JSU) opening game of the football season is only four days away, causing some concern about where the players will be housed during the capital city’s water crisis.
According to Greenville Mayor and JSU alumnus Errick Simmons, all JSU players are invited to take refuge within the city until water is available on campus again.
“Of course, we cannot open the doors for the entire city of Jackson, but with the amount of eligibility of rooms we have, we can offer them to the football team,” Simmons explained. “Speaking to that hotel owner, of several hotels in the Mississippi Delta, we got hotels that we set rooms aside to offer that housing for the team.”
JSU’s Athletics Directors have not responded to Greenville’s invitation at this time.
Additionally, Greenville has begun to collect water through the city’s fire departments to donate to over 180,000 Jackson residents that are without water. Simmons stated that he is aiming to deliver water to the city for the next two weeks.
“If we’re going to be strong as a state, we’ve got to help our brothers and sisters and our cities and towns where they are in need. A friend in need is a friend indeed,” Simmons said.
This isn’t the first time that Greenville has provided aid to nearby areas in the state, as the city has repeatedly offered resources to others in need during trying times.
“Our motivation in this is what we did for the city of Vicksburg in 2017, what we did for Hurricane Ida relief victims, and Hurricane Katrina victims,” Simmons added.
For more information on how Greenville is working to help the city of Jackson during the water crisis, continue watching below.
