August 06, 2020
While the COVID-19 outbreak forced all Trine University students to make sudden adjustments, none were more impacted than its international students.
Fortunately, the Angola community, home to Trine since its founding in 1884, has stepped up to help these students during their time of need.
In the spring, community members provided meals for students unable to travel home when campus closed for five weeks. As the university prepares to begin the fall semester, incoming international students, who have to quarantine for 14 days once they arrive in the United States, have similarly been cared for by Angola businesses and churches.
“The response has been incredible,” said Mari McHenry, director of international community services at Trine. “Churches and local business immediately asked about the number of students who would welcome a healthy meal as a form of continued hospitality in Angola, and asked about their dietary needs.”
McHenry said about a dozen international students arrived on campus and had to quarantine July 20 through Aug. 5. Trine’s Office of International Services (OIS) reached out to get lunch and dinner provided for these students each day.
Churches such as Fairview Missionary and Holy Family Episcopal, which had provided meals during the spring semester and summer, continued to help. The university’s Bon Appetit food service also provided a day of meals.
Also delivering meals were the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Sutton’s Deli, Life Changing Church and Lakeside Meats.
Tom’s Donuts donated breakfasts.
“Many of the people packing the meals are providing not only the basics, but special desserts, beverages, extra bottled water and some occasional gifts,” said McHenry. “Knowing the students are far away from their families, the adoptive parents and families include notes of encouragement, perhaps Bible verses and other niceties.”
Trine’s OIS also received a $5,000 grant toward meal costs from the Steuben County Disaster Response Fund, created through a partnership between the Steuben County Community Foundation and the Steuben County United Way. The funding is providing groceries and meals outside of what has been donated.
International alumni from Trine University have contributed more than $2,000 toward the effort, as well, including $500 donations from two female engineering alumnae: Rupa Shanmugam, 1995 BSEE, and Skye (Ngyuen) Dames, 2017 BSChE.
International students said the meals helped them feel at home in a new country despite the extraordinary circumstances.
“I was not able to go home like my peers, and even though I had some sad moments, I was deeply blessed by the thoughtfulness of compassion and care given to us,” said Chinazam Okoroafor of Nigeria, president of Trine's Multicultural Student Organization.
“In these scary times, it was nice to know that we had a whole community that had our backs and cared about us,” said Nouh Alshakhl of Saudi Arabia.
“Every meal provided to me since I first arrived at the university has been amazing. It felt like I never left home,” said Thaiphi Austria of Saipan.
“The meals we received made the transition to a new country much easier for me,” said Jared Bowman of Canada, a member of the university’s hockey team. “Thank you for the generosity shown by the members of the Angola community!”
McHenry said the meals not only took care of a basic need for the international students, but gave them the opportunity, while quarantined, to feel welcomed by the community.
“COVID-19 has forced us to be isolated for a long time, but in many ways it has brought opportunities for strangers to help one another, build relationships and bond,” she said. “We are forever grateful for the groups who took time to make our current international students feel at home, and to welcome our new ones. Our department has been so humbled by the generosity of our community members.”
With the university’s fall schedule altered to include a longer, seven-week winter break, Trine’s OIS continues to seek community partners to provide meals for international students who are unable to return home during that time. Those interested can contact McHenry at mchenrym@trine.edu or (260) 665-4630.
First UCC - Babbett Ruby from First Congregational United Church of Christ in Angola delivers meals to Trine international students.
Bon Appetit - From left, Benjamin Knowlton, Kori Gonser, Todd Downs and Alicia Barr with meals donated by Bon Appetit for Trine University international students.
First UCC - From left, Vicki Harris from First Congregational United Church of Christ in Angola drops off meals to Trine students Thaiphi Austria and Shauryya Mishra.
Life Changing Church - Nate Drown, second from right, Angola campus pastor from Life Changing Church, delivers meals to international students, from left, Jared Bowman, Gabriel Blouin, Shauryya Mishra, Kevin Hodonou and Thaiphi Austria.
First UCC - First Congregational United Church of Christ members Mike Marturello, left, and Lois McEntarfer, front, deliver meals to Trine international students, from left, Dhairrya Mishra, Shauryya Mishra, Kevin Hodonou and Thaiphi Austria.
Sutton's - John Sutton from Sutton’s Deli holds meals the deli donated for international students quarantined at Trine prior to the fall semester.
Delivery - From left, Trine University international students Shauryya Mishra, Dhairya Mishra and Keven Hodonou, Trine University Director of International Community Services Mari McHenry, and international student Thaiphi Austria accept a meal delivery.
Sutton's - Nick Sutton from Sutton’s Deli holds lunches the deli donated for international students quarantined at Trine prior to the fall semester.
Delivery - Jared Bowman and Gabriel Blouin, Trine University students from Canada, accept a meal delivery.
Lakeside - Rylin Longwith from Lakeside Farm Market holds meals donated for Trine international students.
First UCC - Starting third from left, Madeline Smith, Ron Smith and Bonnie Snyder from First Congregational United Church of Christ in Angola deliver meals accepted by, from left, Kevin Hodonou, Dhairrya Mishra, Thaiphi Austria, Jared Bowman and Gabriel Blouin.
Delivery - Emily Moore of Canada, a member of the Trine women’s hockey team, accepts a grocery delivery. Groceries were provided by Trine’s Office of International Services with the support of a grant from the Steuben County Disaster Response Fund, created through a partnership between the Steuben County Community Foundation and the Steuben County United Way.
Jimmy John's - From left, students Beau Binnie, Jared Bowman, Emmanuel Megnanglo, Kevin Hodonou, Thaiphi Austria, Shauryya Mishra and Gabriel Blouin receive a meal from Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches. The meals were paid for thanks to a grant from the Steuben County Disaster Response Fund, created through a partnership between the Steuben County Community Foundation and the Steuben County United Way.
Tom's Donuts - From left, Todd Saylor of Tom's Donuts, which provided breakfast for Trine international students, stands with students Emmanuel Megnanglo, Thaipi Austria, Beau Binnie and Jarod Bowman. Saylor also gave the students T-shirts and a copy of his book.
First UCC - Sarah Burke of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Angola, second from right, delivers meals to, from left, Thaiphi Austria, Beau Binnie, Dhairya Mishra, Emmanuel Megnanglo, Jared Bowman, Emily Moore and Gabriel Blouin.
Life Changing Church - From left, Trine international students Thaipi Austria, Emmanuel Megnanglo, Jared Bowman and Beau Binnie receive meals from Jen Weaver, director of first impressions, and Mary Suffel, KidzWorld elementary director, at Life Changing Church in Angola.
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