Janine Linthorne, Special Events Coordinator, St. Francis Xavier University
Shanna Hopkins, Director of Alumni Affairs, St. Francis Xavier University
In summer of 2021, StFX made the decision to have in person classes, resulting in community members becoming understandably nervous about the potential importation of COVID-19. The University needed to create a program to support students quarantining and reassure the community. Neighbours Helping Neighbours was born, with over 100 Community members supporting students by delivering groceries, prescriptions, and other essentials. Other alumni volunteered to call students, forging connections and relationships that simply would not have occurred in a regular year. The community’s became part of the solution and by working together, there was no community spread of COVID-19 during the fall semester.