Communities unite to help students
A HEARTWARMING fundraising effort is ensuring international students in Hobart do not go hungry and are supported during the coronavirus crisis.
The congregation of the Wellspring Anglican Church in Sandy Bay has raised $20,000 to address a “desperate need” to buy food and supermarket vouchers for more than 100 students.
University pastor Sam Gough said he was proud of the efforts of the church to assist those in a foreign country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When the lockdown began, dozens of the international students started to lose their casual jobs, and I realised that we were going to have a humanitarian crisis on our front door step in Sandy Bay and Hobart,’’ he said.
“They were falling through the cracks of the welfare system.
“Their families couldn’t send them money, the landlords weren’t reducing their rent, they were haemorrhaging their savings.
“They are vulnerable, they are marginalised, feeling anxious and in a hopeless situation.”
Rev Gough said along with financial support from the State Government, Hobart City Council and local Lions Clubs, more than 100 students were being fed at Chillies Indian restaurant each Tuesday and Thursday night.
“They are overwhelmingly thankful,’’ he said.
“We’d been receiving messages of thanks widely. Also it’s just a mental relief for them as well, because they see that someone is with them, someone cares for them, someone loves them. I couldn’t sleep straight in bed without doing something.” Supermarket vouchers are also being given out to support them, but the money will only stretch so far.
That is why Rev Gough has launched a GoFundMe page to support the Show Hope campaign, aiming to raise $75,000 to fund continued support.
He said the money would go towards putting “rice in their bowls and food on their table every day of the week”.