COLUMBIA, SC — USC sophomore, Spencer Nelson partnered with the American Red Cross and organized a fundraising effort for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

"Basically this all started Tuesday night when I found out a friend of mine's house had burned down. The next morning I walked into the President's office," says Nelson.

Nelson collects from a USC student and fellow New Yorker, Dayna Gralla of Westchester, NY. Dayna's family is fine but her father has been out of work because he can not get into the city.

Nelson's own family owns a house in Rockaway Park, NY, and still has no idea the condition of his home because the area remains under a mandatory evacuation.

Feeling helpless from South Carolina, Nelson decided there was something he could do. This evening when he speaks with his friend, Shannon, who's home burned down in Breezy Point, Queens he will tell her that, "Because of you, we're able to raise funds here, 700 miles away at USC."

As of Friday night, Nelson had raised $930.00.

"I have a lot of pride in my city," says Nelson. "We always get back up. We will rebuild." All proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

photos by Kim Kim Foster-Tobin