ANGOLA, IN - While the COVID-19 outbreak forced all Trine University students to make sudden adjustments, none were more impacted than its international students.

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.

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.

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 students said the meals helped them feel at home in a new country despite the extraordinary circumstances.