The Volunteer Action Center and Associated Student Government teamed up to create care kits for students in quarantine and isolation in residence halls on campus.
The bags include coloring books, colored pencils, journals, fuzzy socks, pens, lip balms, and other comforting items as well as several other miscellaneous items to promote self-care during quarantine. Additionally, the bags include information on how to access the free student New York Times subscriptions provided by ASG.
Quarantining can be difficult and isolating, but VAC and ASG are hoping the bags encourage students, give them something to do, and let them know that their peers are thinking about them. In addition to the care kits, students experiencing COVID-related stresses are encouraged to reach out to CAPS and UofA Cares.
“Both of our organizations were looking for creative ways to serve students right now, and this idea was perfect,” said Julia Nall, ASG president.
“Our two teams came together to partner on this project,” said Eliza Fulton, president of the Volunteer Action Center. “ASG and VAC exist to serve students and fill the needs of the UARK community. In this time of COVID, we saw supporting our isolated students as one of those needs.”
“We hope that these kits give them some fun activities and support positive mental health. Isolation can be a very lonely and idle time and can be taking a serious toll, Nall said. “Hopefully, these kits also remind them of the support of their Razorback family now and in the future.”
The kits will be delivered soon with the help of University Housing for distribution. The VAC and the Center for Community Engagement are also doing some work to ensure students in isolation are being delivered meals, so the isolation kits seem like a natural extension of that project.
This article first appeared in Arkansas News Oct. 9.