BLSA Supports Thanksgiving Efforts With Thank You Cards
Giving Thanks BLSA tabled in the Law School lobby for four days before Thanksgiving, raising money for FISH, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides food, clothing, and small housewares to persons in need. Left to right: Helen Tariku '24, Nate Jones ‘24 and Julian Miller ‘23. Photo by David F. Morrill
Sometimes raising money for a good cause is as simple as saying “Thank you.” It certainly was for members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA),who held a Thank You Card Drive and raised $206 for FISH Inc., before Thanksgiving.
FISH Inc., is a non-profit organization that provides food, clothing, and small housewares to persons in need who live in the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and the Bruton District of York County, Virginia.
“It went better than we could've expected, all thanks to the students that volunteered to sell cards and those who purchased or just donated to the cause,” said Helen Tariku ’24. “We sold over 250 cards and were able to raise more than our $200 fundraising goal.”
Tariku attributes the drive’s success to students, faculty and staff wholeheartedly embracing the concept.
“People loved the idea of being able to show their appreciation and gratitude to those in the law school community and be able to provide some positivity, especially to fellow students when the weeks before finals can be a little rough,” Tariku said.
The idea for the drive began in 2019 prior to the COVID pandemic. With a few years in between, Tariku thought it would be a good idea to bring it back this year.
Despite the extra work involved during a very busy end of semester, Tariku was glad to fit the drive into her schedule.
“Utilizing a lot of time management skills, being organized, and keeping a color-coordinated planner/calendar kept everything in order,” Tariku said. “Plus, when you like the work you do, it makes the work not feel like work at all and makes it a bit easier to do.”
Tariku likewise enjoys her work with BLSA.
“Allowing our members to feel like they have a smaller close-knit community within the larger law school community is very important,” Tariku said. “Providing our members with a space to be surrounded by other individuals with similar backgrounds and experiences and enable them to be their most authentic self is what I really like about the work that BLSA does.”
Thank you, BLSA! And thanks to everyone who bought cards and supported this worthy cause!
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