Growing up in rural Virginia, our family had an open door policy. Anyone who entered our house wasn’t allowed to walk out hungry. My parents operated a tiny, made-from-scratch bakery and catering business. They warmly welcomed friends, neighbors, and the occasional stranded motorist, and fed them.

In college, I traded my close-knit community for a multicultural community nearly 5,000 miles from home, in Hilo, Hawaii. Enamored by the vibrant variety of cultures and languages, I eagerly embraced the new foods, fun and freedom. Yet, as the semester wore on, academic pressures, financial instability, and the task of juggling multiple part-time jobs began to take a toll on me.  I finally hit a wall when I received troubling news from home. Overwhelmed, I felt isolated and sank into depression.

Everything changed when a friend extended an invitation to a Thanksgiving potluck hosted by a campus club and some local churches. Drawn by the prospect of free food, I reluctantly crawled out of my cave, and found a community that helped fill the hole in my soul.

Volunteers showed genuine interest in students. We were welcomed into their homes to celebrate holidays. They took us on hiking adventures and trips to other islands. When students walked through difficult times, they were our advisors and advocates. During important performances and games, they were our cheerleaders. In short, they provided the family we needed when we missed our own family members the most.

Nearly 30 years later, I am honored to be a “Campus Mom” at Arizona State University. It’s my privilege to offer hospitality and friendship to students from all over the world. I invite you to partner with me. Your financial assistance enables me to encourage, equip and empower international students to discover true freedom, and live life to the full. Thank you for your support.