DuBOIS, Pa. — During the spring semester, the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) club at Penn State DuBois completed a donation drive, collecting items for baby bags to be donated to Hello Neighbor, a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh that supports recently resettled refugee and immigrant families.

With assistance from the campus community, club members collected various baby items that were delivered to the organization’s headquarters in April. Students also received a tour of the facility in Pittsburgh, as well as an overview of all the resources and services the organization offers. Then, they assisted with assembling baby bags with many of the items that they brought with them.

“The donation experience was made even more impactful when we were able to assemble baby bags for new parents so they could have one less thing to worry about during such a stressful time in their lives,” said Emma Suplizio, HDFS student at Penn State DuBois. “It was extremely eye-opening to hear about everything a refugee may go through to get a safe place and my hope is that our donations ease some stress and maybe bring a smile to someone’s face during such a scary time.”

Six members of the HDFS club traveled along with adviser Sarah Pierotti, assistant professor in HDFS. Pierotti is currently in her second year serving on the young professionals board for Hello Neighbor.

“The visit to Hello Neighbor was impactful, emotional, and inspirational for our students, and it was for me as well,” Pierotti said. “Seeing how much our students care about helping other people and learning about their stories will always stand out to me as one of the best parts of the spring semester.”

Since being founded in 2017, Hello Neighbor has provided support to over 3,000 refugees and immigrants from more than 48 countries of origin, helping them feel more comfortable and confident in their new lives.