A Student Emergency Relief Fund helping Delaware State University students struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic has hit its initial $1 million dollar goal.
The Student Emergency Relief Fund was established on April 10, 2020, about a month after most residential students had to leave campus because of the pandemic.
Initially, DSU anticipated a two-week absence, but it wasn’t long before students learned they’d take classes online for the remainder of the semester.
Immediately, the school began hearing from students facing difficult conditions.
“Having difficulty with places to live, having food insecurity, not having the proper technology, family problems and all kinds of things,” said Steve Newton,the director of media relations at DSU.
Newton says they are dispersing the money as quickly as it comes in.
“They’re using it for food insecurity; some people hardly have enough money to eat and they were on meal plans. And then we have housing insecurity; some people are where they have to pay rent or they have to help now unemployed parents pay rent. They're using it for tech; students might have laptops, but not WiFi access so they need hotspots.
Newton says also in some cases, students used the money to purchase clothing because many left for spring break, thinking they were coming back to school.
And he notes sadly one student needed money to bury both of her grandparents who contracted COVID-19.
Newton notes that those needs have not gone away.
“We right now estimate that to meet the current documented needs right now, we’re going to need to keep at it for another $500,000,” said Newton.
Newton says the list of donors includes Trustees, alumni, faculty and staff at DSU and 400 students who are faring far better than some other students.
He says to date - 1,000 students have received assistance.
Donations may be made here.
