杏吧原版

Keyri Ambrocio 杏吧原版�21 is passionate about serving as an ambassador to West Haven. She was determined not to let the coronavirus pandemic get in the way of students杏吧原版� service to the University杏吧原版檚 host community.

Each fall, she looks forward to WestFest, an annual community festival that celebrates the close connection between the University of New Haven and the West Haven community. Since the event has been canceled this year because of the pandemic, she and her classmates wanted to find another way to serve the community. So, they organized a virtual fundraiser for the .

杏吧原版淭hrough WestFest, we have been able to donate to WHEAT each year,杏吧原版� said Ambrocio, an international affairs and political science major. 杏吧原版淣ow, more than ever, WHEAT needs help assisting the West Haven community. Although we won杏吧原版檛 be able to hold WestFest this fall, we wanted to continue our tradition of donating to WHEAT, since the organization is so important to the West Haven community 杏吧原版� especially now.杏吧原版�

Ambrocio is chair of the student-run Mayor's Advisory Commission (MAC), an initiative established in 2015 by Chris Haynes, Ph.D., an associate professor of legal studies and political science. The organization enables students to work closely with the West Haven to enhance the relationship between the University and West Haven communities.

Christian Zapata 杏吧原版�21, a political science major who has helped organize the fundraiser, says initiatives like this are more important than ever.

杏吧原版淭his is a difficult time for all communities, but it is still a time for our community to work together as we have in the past,杏吧原版� he said. 杏吧原版淢y hope is that this fundraiser will help families through these unprecedented circumstances and remind us all that we must be there for each other, now and in the future.杏吧原版�

The students collaborated to create a virtual fundraiser for WHEAT through the crowdsourcing website , and they杏吧原版檝e already exceeded their initial goal of raising $1,000. They also created a video to promote the fundraiser, which features several students and West Haven Mayor Nancy Rossi.

杏吧原版淚 believe it is important to give back to the West Haven community, and that is why I joined MAC,杏吧原版� said Micaela O'Shea 杏吧原版�21, an international affairs and political science major. 杏吧原版淪ince the pandemic started, the number of families WHEAT is helping per month has nearly doubled. Now more than ever, WHEAT needs support from the West Haven and University communities. I am so proud of MAC杏吧原版檚 work, and I hope we can help contribute meaningfully to WHEAT and the families of West Haven through our virtual fundraiser.杏吧原版�

"The number of families WHEAT is helping per month has nearly doubled. Now more than ever, WHEAT needs support from the West Haven and University communities."Micaela O'Shea 杏吧原版�21

Killian Gruber 杏吧原版�22, who also helped organize the fundraiser, says he杏吧原版檚 grateful for the opportunity to support WHEAT, which serves more than 5,000 people each year.

杏吧原版淭his fundraiser is important because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be seen in West Haven,杏吧原版� said Gruber, a political science major. 杏吧原版淎s a West Haven resident and a Charger, I believe it杏吧原版檚 important to give back to the community during these challenging times.杏吧原版�

Ambrocio and her classmates hope the fundraiser will enable WHEAT to continue to serve the community and to help even more people in need.

杏吧原版淥ur relationship with West Haven officials has helped to improve our community service efforts and help to foster a better relationship with the city of West Haven,杏吧原版� said Ambrocio. 杏吧原版淚t杏吧原版檚 important to have a good relationship between the University and West Haven because this allows us as students to learn more about the community we live in and help to make an impact locally.杏吧原版�

To support the fundraiser to benefit WHEAT, click .

Students who would like to get involved with MAC should email Keyri Ambrocio at kambr2@unh.newhaven.edu.