糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community comes together to support students during COVID-19 pandemic
The newly established COVID-19 Student Support Fund will support students facing immediate needs, including reduced job hours and income, food and housing insecurity, technology needs, access to healthcare, and other unforeseen expenses.The University of Arkansas at Little Rock community has come together to help students facing critical financial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.听鈥淚n times like these, we witness the true heart of the American spirit,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淭he COVID-19 pandemic gives us all a sense of togetherness and reminds us that while we continue to practice social distancing, we are not alone.鈥�The newly established COVID-19 Student Support Fund will support students facing immediate needs, including reduced job hours and income, food and housing insecurity, technology needs, access to healthcare, and other unforeseen expenses.In honor of #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, a national day of global action for giving and unity in response to COVID-19, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is celebrating the contributions of donors with special content on and .听鈥淲e are using this day as an opportunity to thank all the generous donors who have gone above and beyond to help our students by supporting the COVID-19 Student Support Fund,鈥� said Samantha Wiley, assistant director of development. 鈥淢eeting the needs of our 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students would not be possible without the help of the Trojan community and companies like Seal Solar whose donations have made such an impact during this time.鈥�Around 60 donors have raised nearly $27,000 to help 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students in need.鈥淭he fund started off with an anonymous donor who wanted to help students and pledged to match $5,000 in donations,鈥� Wiley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing how many people want to help our students right now. It touches our alumni community in particular. They want to give students the same opportunity they had to complete their college education.鈥�One of the fund鈥檚 donors, Julie Brown, a 1993 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock graduate from De Queen, Arkansas, said she was moved to give $13,000 after realizing what a difference it can make for the students.鈥淓ver since I graduated from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, I鈥檝e wanted to help other students succeed,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚 know how important a college education can be to a person鈥檚 future, and my heart breaks for all the students who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. I know a lot of students have suddenly lost their jobs and are facing basic need insecurities, such as the ability to purchase groceries or rent. When I saw 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock had started a fund for these students, I wanted to help right away to ensure they get the support they need.鈥澛�One student who can benefit from the fund is Mariam Bouzihay, a senior psychology major who is graduating this semester. Shortly after moving home to Jonesboro, Bouzihay鈥檚 family home was damaged in the tornado that struck the town on March 28.
Mariam Bouzihay
鈥淪ome people in the neighborhood lost their houses completely, so we were lucky,鈥� Bouzihay said. 鈥淗uge parts of our roof were blown away. The carport is gone. We have a food truck in the back of our yard that just landed there, and we don鈥檛 know who it belongs to. The response from first responders and all the people who came from out of town to help the people of Jonesboro was really nice to see.鈥�Fortunately, Bouzihay and her family were uninjured, but she now faces an unexpected financial difficulty, but is grateful for the support from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥淚t鈥檚 a very confusing time,鈥� Bouzihay said. 鈥淪o many people have lost their jobs, and we have all transitioned to classes online. A lot of students need support. I want our students to know that there are people here to help them. During this time, it鈥檚 about being there for people. We are a Trojan family, and look what our family, friends, and supporters have accomplished. When you have people who support and care for each other, it鈥檚 amazing what can be achieved.鈥�Students who would like to apply for a micro-grant may fill out a, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock employees may refer a student. Students will be contacted by a member of the CARE Team, who will provide them with a short application. A committee will review each submission and make an award recommendation to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.If you would like to help 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students by making a donation, please visit the website or text 糖心Vlog传媒LR to 41444.
