On August 2nd , EndingCOVID raised supplies to donate to the ESOL Bilingual Migrant Program. The goal of the drive was to collect school supplies that refugee and immigrant students can use when they seek shelter in St. Louis. It is often forgotten that for refugees and immigrants who come to St. Louis, school can start at any time.



This makes it hard for them to seek out supplies since few stores carry the necessary items all year round. On top of the items being hard to come by, all the sales have ended since back-to-school time is in August for most students. Once the students are provided with a backpack full of supplies to put in their cubby/locker, they feel established in their role as a student. The ESOL Director, Alla Gonzalez Del Castillo, worked with EndingCOVID to arrange a time for the drop off. Upon talking to her, we learned that the ESOL Bilingual Migrant Program “strives to provide every new ELL in [their] district with a backpack full of school supplies to ensure they are set for a successful school year, and they feel welcomed regardless of when they enroll and start the school year (late fall, winter, or spring).” It is important for these students to feel a place of belonging as they are moving to a new home so that they can walk through school doors with “learning tools just like all other students.” According to Unrefugee, “24% of refugee adolescents and 9% of refugee adolescents in low-income countries attend secondary school. Globally, 84% percent of adolescents attend secondary school. Only 3% of refugees enroll in college or university.” ESOL Bilingual Migrant Program works to provide them with an education that allows them to not only graduate high school, but hopefully go into college. The drive that EndingCOVID hosted raised a total of 8,195 items such as pens, pencils, and paper to donate. A continued partnership between EndingCOVID and ESOL Bilingual Migrant Program will be continued in order to better serve refugee and immigrant students seeking refuge in St. Louis.