459 SPARE STUFF SPELLS SURVIVAL FOR MTSU STUDENTS

Struggling International Students Find that Somebody CAIRS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2006
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

(MURFREESBORO) – Community Assistance for International and Refugee Students (CAIRS) will hold a huge yard/garage/bake sale from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, June 17, at the St. Rose of Lima school gymnasium, 1601 North Tennessee Blvd. in Murfreesboro.
Donations of items or homemade goods will be accepted on the day before the sale from 5-8 p.m. or on the day of sale from 7-8 a.m. All manner of trash, treasures and trinkets will be available for the discriminating bargain hunter at the sale.
All proceeds will benefit CAIRS, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping international MTSU students here on student visas who are not eligible for any type of federal aid or grants, as well as refugees and other immigrants.
“These students are often forced to work 30-40 hours at minimum wage jobs to cover their own tuition,” Karen Case, advisor, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, and co-CAIRS advisor, said. “Once the tuition is paid, they have no money left over for textbooks, groceries or medical expenses.”
Many students aided by CAIRS come from countries ripped asunder by war and famine. Some have no family members in the U.S. or abroad. CAIRS gives these students funds to help cover their medical expenses, textbooks, supplies or groceries. Only emergency requests are granted.
To cite one example, a permanent U.S. resident from Ethiopia was hospitalized with pneumonia in April. Since he could not afford insurance, CAIRS stepped in to help pay some of his bills and follow-up doctor’s visits.
For more information, contact Case at 615-427-9411 or kcase@mtsu.edu.