The holidays are just around the corner, but with a spike in new COVID-19 cases the future seems uncertain, leaving many college students around the country to face the difficult decision to either go home for the holidays or to stay at school.
Boston University student and Long Beach native, Stephanie Eggers, had bought her ticket to come home for the holidays but is still uncertain if she will be returning.
“I have flights to go to California but I’m seriously considering cancelling and staying in New England where there aren’t quarantine requirements between states,” Eggers said.
“I’ve had a lot of anxiety realizing the decision to fly home with my boyfriend completely rests on me. He really wants to go but I’m super unsure and stressed due to quarantine requirements for work if I choose to go,” Eggers said.
Eggers is not the only student experiencing these challenges.
Noah Russell, a student at Long Beach City College has been faced with the same decision.
“Usually for the past nine to ten years, we would have Thanksgiving at my aunt’s house, but now we’re going to stay at home with my immediate family,” Russell said.
“I plan to have a lazy afternoon, but I want to keep the regular tradition my family has of putting up the lights and the tree to make it seem more normal,” Russell said.
Long Beach City College has extended support to the local students staying in Long Beach throughout the holidays.
On November 24, the Viking Vault Grab & Go was open from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m, where Basic Needs provided free groceries for all students on a first come first serve basis.
These groceries were mostly Thanksgiving themed with items such as cranberry sauce, green beans, and stuffing. Frozen turkeys were also included. As of November 18, they had 200 turkeys to distribute.
Justin Mendez, Basic Needs Program Manager said, “We want students to know we are here for them and they are not alone.”
“We have more students amid the pandemic due to unemployment and food and housing insecurity,” said Mendez.
On November 25, the Basic Needs program, the Culinary Arts program and the Helping Homeless Student Group at Long Beach City College joined forces to provide a hot meal for students with housing struggles. This was only available for students who were already working with the Basic Needs program due to housing issues.
November 15-21 was Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
Healthy Viking Initiative shared on their Instagram ways they are helping students who are facing hunger and homlessness.
Follow them for more information and stay up to date with events @lbcc_healthyvikings.
If students feel they can use the help of the services provided from the Basic Needs Program, students can call them at (562) 938-3241 or send an email to basicneeds@lbcc.edu.
