U of M grads spearhead UROC staff supply drive

Driven by a need to help others, three recent University of Minnesota graduates led a UROC staff-focused supply drive for community members impacted by the economic hardships of COVID-19 and recent unrest in the wake of the killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd.

Following social distancing protocols, the team raised money to purchase a range of much-needed items from discount retailers. From peanut butter to pasta, garbage bags to baby wipes, the team delivered hundreds of dollars worth of necessities to collection sites at Sanctuary Covenant Church in North Minneapolis and Pimento Jamaican Kitchen in South Minneapolis, where the goods were distributed by relief workers from the non-profit organization Twin Cities Stand Together.

University School of Journalism graduate and UROC administrative specialist Dijon McCain led the UROC effort. "There are millions of families who are unemployed and don't even have basics necessities," says McCain. "I can't imagine not having soap or toilet paper so it bothers me that this is a reality for some. We must love each other and show support in the fight for liberation."

McCain was assisted by fellow UROC student administrative specialists—University of Minnesota graduate student Jennifer Afamefune and University of Maryland graduate student Sylvia Mwangi.