![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Support_during_Covid_story_header.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\nBy the end of March 2020, the response to the COVID-19 global pandemic culminated in more than 100 countries worldwide instituting full or partial lockdowns, affecting billions of people. As students, parents, employees, businesses, and others scrambled to adjust to new restrictions, the range of the impact on different groups became apparent. Representative of this were college campuses and the distinction among students.<\/p>\n
A majority of Rutgers in-state students returned to family homes in New Jersey, while out-of-state students had to arrange returning to various parts of the country. International students faced the most challenges, as some were unable to return home, others lost funding, and many were not able to work due to visa restrictions and decreased opportunities. Additionally, heightened levels of racism related to the virus left many international students feeling unwelcome and concerned for their safety.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Office of International Programs<\/a> (OIP) of the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) ran a survey at the end of May 2020 to hear directly from SEBS’ international students about their needs. Once the survey results were in, it was clear that the students required more assistance than initially realized. Their top concerns were food insecurity, rent assistance, and a lack of basic personal care supplies.<\/p>\n In the closing weeks of the spring 2020 semester and into the summer, OIP continued to work with the international student community to provide resources and support throughout the pandemic. Through these efforts, the OIP team and members of the Rutgers community were able to help international scholars obtain visa extensions and connect students who had lost funding to financial resources offered by the university. But the work did not stop there.<\/p>\n At the end of the spring 2020 semester, an email was sent to SEBS faculty and staff asking for donations and contributions. There was an immediate response\u2014faculty, staff, and students reached out seeking a way to help. Nrupali Patel, teaching instructor in the Department of Plant Biology, connected OIP in a partnership with the Gayatri Chetna Center<\/a> of Piscataway. Along with SEBS faculty and staff, the Food Science Undergraduate Club, and Rutgers Global, OIP provided care packages that were hand-delivered to students who responded to the survey. \u201cThe Food Science club reached out to us to ask how they could help before the care package initiative even started,” says Megan Francis, OIP assistant dean. “So many students were facing uncertainty, so there was really something special in this collaboration. It never ceases to amaze me how much students care about and support each other.\u201d<\/p>\n The generous financial contribution of the Gayatri Chetna Center of Piscataway allowed OIP to purchase all items requested by students. After one day of gathering and sorting supplies, and three days of deliveries in and around the New Brunswick campus, OIP was able to hand deliver care packages to 60 students in need. Each care package contained instant noodles, rice, beans, cans of soup, individually wrapped face masks, hand sanitizers, and personal care items. In addition, each student received a list of resources detailing where they could go for help during this unprecedented time along with handwritten notes of encouragement from fellow students and members of Rutgers Global\u2014International Student and Scholar Services<\/a>. \u201cThe toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and face masks are all helpful because of the panic buying situation,” said one student recipient. “Also, the package of candy reminds me of the fun that we have during the events that are hosted by the department. You are all like a fairy or Santa who magically knows what I need.\u201d And while the tangible items were held dear, it was the thoughtful notes included in the packages that showed someone cared. \u201cThanks a lot for all your work during this volatile period,” one note read. “Thank you for caring about our recent situation.\u201d<\/p>\n While the survey responses shed light on the loneliness, boredom, and isolation the students felt at the time, it also made apparent the discrimination some of them experienced. For the spring 2020 semester, SEBS had 121 undergraduate and 102 graduate international students enrolled. The majority of these students were from India, South Korea, and China. \u201cAfter COVID-19 hit the U.S., I saw how international students felt unwelcome to be in the U.S., and I wanted to let our international students know that we are here for them and we will keep advocating for them,” says Hyunjin Yeo, OIP program coordinator. “I do not know how successful we were in conveying this message to all students who received the care packages, but the warm messages we received from students assured me we are on the right track.\u201d<\/p>\n “I think it is incredibly important to recognize that international students are also finding it difficult to make ends meet during this crisis,” adds Francis. “Some have lost their funding, there have been job losses, and some students have lost family members to COVID. This virus does not discriminate, and it hit many of our international students and their families before it hit the United States. Our care packages did not solve these issues. Rather, they provided a sense of empathy for our students and let them know that there is a support system for them while they are here and far away from home. It is not a lot, and there is still more to be done. But it is at least a start.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Staff](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Internal-TP.jpg\")
![\"Notecards](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Internatl-cards.jpg\")
![\"Rows](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Internatl-bags.jpg\")