File photo
File photo
While much of the nation is beginning to recover from COVID-19, college students are faced with daunting challenges.
According to The Southern Illinoisan, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale used its emergency fund to provide for students' new needs that arose due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the transition to online learning.
To help students, the SIU Foundation reached out to alumni and friends to donate to the Saluki Cares Student Emergency Fund. The fund will give financial assistance to students whose needs fall outside of the parameters of traditional financial aid or scholarships.
Over 1,000 donors responded within weeks, giving over $240,000 to the fund.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Stettler said the funds will help offset some of the challenges felt due to the virus.
"The funds raised have been used to help students meet their physical and financial needs,” Stettler told the newspaper. “The virus knows no boundaries, and our students are no exception. They are experiencing things like homelessness, food insecurity, inability to pay rent and utilities, securing medications and taking care of their dependents.”
SIU has donated boxes of food, as well as over 100 laptops, internet access, and even childcare products for students with families. For the latter, Walgreens donated over $1,500 in toiletries, baby food and diapers. Emergency requests for money to cover rent, utilities and books have also been answered by SIU.
One unrestricted gift through the SIU Foundation was for $90,000 to be directed toward any need that arose.
“Our goal is to help students stay on track to graduation. Our donors are making that possible,” SIU Foundation CEO Rae Goldsmith told The Southern Illinoisan.
Students can apply for funds by visiting salukicares.siu.edu.
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