Our Crowdfunding Groups
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented and will continue to present immense challenges, whether it be difficulty in adjusting to online classes, loss of a job as a result of businesses closing, or even the loss of a close friend or family member. The impact is multifaceted, but it is clear that the pandemic is adversely impacting our Red Raider family specifically in the area of finances and affordability. Though the CARES Act was passed in March 2020 and available to students during the early months of the pandemic, the federal funds were not enough to sustain our Red Raiders over the summer and into the fall semester. For some, the CARES Act funds went directly to rent for the month and groceries for the week and is now long gone. Though the CARES funding stopped, the need to pay for basic necessities did not. The Raider Relief Fund at Texas Tech University is a resource available for students in financial crisis. The program helps meet students' basic needs and connect them to other resources available across campus. This student-led fundraiser seeks to support this program, to highlight the needs of our Red Raiders during this pandemic, to encourage others to donate, and to promote togetherness while navigating this pandemic.
We believe that if we are to get through this pandemic, there is only one way to do it: by moving forward together. Your donation could be the difference between a student continuing their education at Texas Tech University or not. Your donation could provide a student with groceries for the week. Your donation could mean that a student is able to maintain their housing and tenant agreements. Below are testimonies about the impact of the Raider Relief Fund on the lives of Red Raiders:
"As a second generation Red Raider in my senior year, I've always felt at home here at Texas Tech. This is the best place for me to be in these hard times. My father was hit by a car in his own driveway while taking out the trash. He is still in critical condition with a severe traumatic brain injury and broken limbs. He is also in a coma, and is not allowed visitors...due to the rising case of COVID-19. My dad will most likely never work again. He may never talk, walk, ride, swim, climb, sing, or dance with me at my wedding. My dad may never walk down the aisle with me now. My mother wants us to go back to school. Not to give up on our education, not to slow down or take a break, to keep pursuing our goals and dreams, as my father did. You will never know how much this means to me and my family, thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. In this hard time, where nothing is certain, you have provided me with a form of assurance and stability. Living far from my family in this time is one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made. But I must continue my education and you have made a way for me to do so without worrying where I will rest my head." -G
"During this crisis of COVID-19, like many people, I have been hit hard. I was debating on whether to pay my rent or buy some groceries with the money that I have left. I have been jobless the last 2 months and have been struggling for a living. The fund provided to me will not only help me pay my rent but will provide me moral support in times like this... The stress that I had because of my finances has been minimized. Thanks to Raider Relief Fund. This fund will be a key to my success in life and I will always be grateful for this help." -P
"I cannot express my gratitude enough for receiving the Raider Relief funding! After losing my paid internship while still having a lease, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to come back in the fall to finish the last year of my Bachelor's degree. These unprecedented times continued to make life extremely difficult when my dad also lost his job... My family and I are so grateful to be a part of the TTU family with generous, kind-hearted people such as yourselves!" -K
