Apr 1, 2020
A letter from the Langara College Foundation Chair
I hope this letter finds you safe and sound. I am writing to you today, our alumni, as we need your support and assistance, more than ever. Reaching out to our Langarans for help is something we have not done before, but these are unprecedented times. As you know, having been a student myself at Langara, the financial struggle is a real thing that some of our students face and now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this stress has become more heightened.
In response to the growing needs and challenges resulting from COVID-19, we have opened a new fund to help our students who, like us, are facing many unanticipated challenges.
Many of our students live on limited means on a day-to-day basis. Our students have a range of financial aid options to help support their education, as you know, but during this time, the demand for financial support has never been greater. Some of them now find themselves without their part-time and full-time jobs because of layoffs or their work shutting down, and are now unable to afford basics needs, such as food, toiletries and the means to pay their rent. Others have to be isolated due to the virus and cannot leave to visit their local food bank or the Community Cupboard that we have in place at the College to assist them with their basic needs.
While we understand that our students are not alone in facing financial hardship, we are all in this together! To this end, Langara College Foundation has donated $150,000 to the Emergency Response Fund and the Langara Student's Union has also committed $20,000 to help our students access our Community Cupboard food bank. However, these amounts will not go far. In the last two weeks alone, we have seen an unprecedented number of emergency bursary applications, over 400 and have distributed 4000+ meals provided to students in need through the distribution of weekly food bags.
If you have the ability to share just a little, it will make such a difference to our students and our community at Langara.
Please consider donating to our Emergency response fund now. Monies raised from this appeal will go directly to assisting our students in need with financial relief through bursaries. Every little bit makes a difference.
Please make your donation now to https://langara.ca/foundation/donate/index.html
All donations over $20 will be eligible for a tax receipt. The Langara College Foundation will match all donations, thereby doubling your support.
We cannot thank you enough for your generosity during these difficult times.
Stay safe, stay healthy.
Warm regards,
Bruce Hurst CFP, FCPA, FCGA
Outstanding Alumni Recipient
Chair, Langara College Foundation