For more than a week, I have been addicted to CNN.com.

I have been glued to my computer screen and absolutely obsessed with the recovery efforts in New Orleans. I have been fixated on the latest headlines, the latest death toll, the latest desperate plea for help.

I cannot help it.

Visiting CNN.com for breaking news 50 times a day is not uncommon for me. I'm a news junkie; it's what we do to get our fix.

But news of Hurricane Katrina's devastation was different.

Reading the stories and pouring over the images have been the only things I can do to feel connected to the people affected by one of the most horrific natural disasters on American soil.

My feeling of detachment makes sense though. I'm here in State College and New Orleans is way down there, so how could I possibly help?

I'm a poor college student with no transportation and a less-than-stellar credit record. I can't afford gas, and I live on macaroni and cheese.

Blah, blah blah. Excuses, excuses.

People are still dying, and a city with nearly 500,000 residents has been virtually destroyed. I'll be damned if I can't spare a few dollars.

So I dropped some money in a plastic bin at Saturday's football game. It wasn't much, but the feeling was overwhelming.

I finally felt connected.

The relief effort is not limited to the American Red Cross or the National Guard. In fact, dozens of local organizations are collecting money and supplies for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

It's as easy as clicking on the black ribbon on Google's front page. So far, at least 86,000 people have done so and have donated more than $9 million.

Dozens of Web sites and organizations have popped up since Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. They are asking for monetary donations, blood donations and housing spaces. Local residents and Penn State students are collecting money and other supplies.

If you're attending the Penn State football game against Cincinnati this Saturday, bring some spare change. Student athletes and the local chapter of the Red Cross will be collecting money again for the relief effort. Last week they collected more than $55,000.

If the stadium were filled to capacity, that's only 50 cents for each person in attendance. Just think what we'd be able to do if each fan gave just $1 at every home game for the rest of the season. The Red Cross would collect an additional $660,000 for the relief efforts from Penn State football fans alone.

And there are other ways to help besides giving money.

The Red Cross is also conducting blood drives on campus this week to boost the blood supply in Centre County and to help hurricane victims.

Blood will be collected beginning Thursday and will continue through next week.

Volunteers are also needed to help restore New Orleans and the surrounding areas through Habitat for Humanity. If you can't volunteer your time, they'd sure appreciate any spare change.

As college students, we might not be able to offer shelter to Katrina's survivors, but our parents and families might. Ask anyone you know to offer housing through www.hurricanehousing.org.

So please join me in helping our fellow citizens. It's a great feeling, and I need another fix.