Tomorrow, May 5, is #GivingTuesdayNow - a global day of generosity and unity, a day to come together and give back in response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19, no matter who or where we are. In honor of the day, we reflect on the ways that our Concordia community has come together to…

RESPOND

• On March 12, CSP made the difficult decision to close campus and move classes online for the remainder of the spring semester. While on-campus students had to move back home, the transition to online learning was nearly effortless with only 1 day of classes lost (a typical MN winter causes more disruption!).
• The Barnabas Fund was reinstated to assist students financially as they dealt with increased financial needs.
• When the shortage in medical supplies became apparent, CSP’s science, nursing, DPT programs, and Student Life office donated all available masks, gloves, and gowns to Health Partners Neuroscience Center. We were grateful to be able to give back to the medical community who has been (and still is) giving so much of themselves during this time.

GIVE

• More than 130 people have contributed to the Barnabas Fund, providing 45 students with a grant to ease the stress that’s been added to their plate recently.
• Please consider including Concordia St. Paul to your #GivingTuesdayNow list – your gift to the Barnabas Fund will have an immediate impact on the life of a student.

SUPPORT

• To provide emotional and spiritual support to our community, the CSP Ministry team has offered daily chapel online. These videos are available to view anytime at https://www.facebook.com/pg/cspministry/
• In support of our 2020 graduating class, we invite you to send a message of congratulations and encouragement to them. Submit your written or video message here: https://www.ave.csp.edu/s/286/rd/index.aspx?sid=286&gid=1&pgid=2059&cid=6015&fbclid=IwAR0iMuIHEZQ2SMFGa5CQ-uE99ppHIbSpc4G4Xc0wTqGI9dC-NAU1vknGbEs
• While we were unable to celebrate Commencement in-person with graduates, CSP did create a virtual commencement that has been shared on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/ConcordiaUniversity

THANK

Thank you so much for being a part of our Concordia family. While this time has brought much uncertainty to our culture, it has been a reminder of the strong community of students, alumni, employees and supporters at CSP.

To date (4/28), we've awarded 42 students grants from the money raised for the Barnabas Fund. As the funds have been distributed, student recipients continue to share messages of gratitude for the additional help during this time:

Thank you so much for this fund! It means the world that someone cares this much. It did give me some relief and I’m able to continue my education and graduate by the end of the year. I’m very thankful to those who donated, thank you!!!!!

             - Alberta (Senior)

Hello, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for this grant. With everything that's been going on my financial funds that I have been very low and this grant has helped a significant amount and has helped lift a large weight off my shoulders. And I'm very grateful for everyone that was a part of making this happen with my mental health being extremely difficult to manage currently. This news of receiving a grant to help with the bill I owe for this semester has been a ray of light. So thank you very much I am beyond grateful for this news.

          - Brandon (Senior)

I want to thank the donors for this grant during this unforgettable time of my life. I’m incredibly grateful! 

             - Hafsa (Junior)

Thank you so much for your support. This grant was a huge relief to me. I only have a couple of classes left and I am running out of aid. I am not working because of the COVID-19 currently. I have a 5-year-old little boy who I care for alone. This grant took a ton of pressure off of me and I am very grateful. You are truly changing lives. God Bless You!

           - Sarah (Senior)

A huge thanks to the donors who have made this possible!

As of today, 4/14, more than $17,000 have been received for the Barnabas Fund. The first distributions were awarded last week and nearly immediately, we began receiving inspiring words of thanks from the recipients:

I don't believe there are words that can fully express my gratitude for the generosity of every donor. Thank you so much for this blessing in this time of great hardship.

I am an adult student majoring in Accounting and also work full-time in a medical laboratory, specializing in research and reference testing. I am also a volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps, helping test the homeless population for COVID-19 and working in the warehouse moving stockpiled emergency medical supplies to hospitals. I'm a US-Canadian citizen and my career goals are to complete a Master's degree in Economics and work in International policy and consulting.

I'm writing this while at work in my hospital lab, in full PPE, surrounded by COVID-19 specimens. For the past few weeks, I, like many others, have felt alone, quarantining myself from loved ones due to my close contact with the virus. My support system is also dealing with their own struggles. My boyfriend, Matthew, his family's small business has closed their doors temporarily. My mother is an Emergency Room nurse who also takes immunosuppressants, and is now quarantined to her home for safety.

For weeks I have been debating on whether I should stop volunteering and take a second laboratory job to finish paying for this semester's tuition, or if I should take a leave of absence. Because of your donation, I don't have to make that choice. Because of your choice to give, I can continue both school and my volunteer work with the most vulnerable among us. Today is a reminder that we are not alone and I want to thank each and every one of you.

I hold in prayer that good health finds you and your families, that peace finds the families of those who have been lost, and that strength finds all those working on the front lines.

           - God Bless, Alysha Tracy (Sophomore)

I want to give my thanks to the donors and for being selected to receive this grant. During this difficult time, I was laid off from my work-study job, which made me worry about how I was going to pay off school expenses. This has lessened my worries and allow me to focus on my classes and finish my senior year strong. Again, thank you to the donors for this financial gift  

           - Sincerely,  Panplais Lor (Senior)

I'm thankful and truly grateful for your help. This grant will help me to continue my studies that I wish to continue throughout my college career. 

          - Thank you again, Biate Russell

So far, 23 students have received a grant from the Barnabas Fund, and CSP will continue to release grants as additional funds come in. Thank you to everyone who has donated in support of students like Alysha, Panplais and Biate!