Maia Gafies ’22 provided NDMU a unique perspective on how we can remain #NDMUTogether during these times of social distancing in a letter submitted to the April Bulletin.

Dear Notre Dame of Maryland Community,

Some of you may know me, some of you may not. I’m a transfer student who came to NDMU and found a family. I’m reaching out to you to provide support and some comfort during these unprecedented times. As you know, NDMU is a community of family--which I quickly found out when I moved here. I found people here who welcomed everyone with open arms, who were the quickest of anyone to help someone in need, and who cared about others unconditionally. Although I am at home now, as many of you are as well, I continue to see acts of kindness and love from our community because we are apart physically but always together mentally.

In the past, the students and faculty of our university have been known for their strength, perseverance, kindness, and leadership. All of these characteristics define us still today. As our global community continues to fight against COVID-19, there are so many ways we can help.

Many of us either are, or know somebody who is, on the front lines of this fight. NDMU have both a history and a future filled with strong, intelligent healthcare workers. Therefore, it’s our privilege to help these men and women in the hospitals and beyond who need our help and it is our opportunity to share our university’s love with the world. So many are facing burnout because they care for the patients who many of us only see on the news. As a Criminology major myself, I see the world in a different light, but the way that our community’s doctors and nurses are fighting to keep us safe can’t be missed by anyone and we should be doing everything in our power to lend a hand.

Some of the best action we can take is the simplest.

  • It goes a long way to stay home. Even if you yourself aren’t at high risk, we all know somebody who is, so help keep them safe too.
  • We can support and thank our nurses, doctors, first responders, and others who are making the fight against COVID-19 possible. We can make signs and put them in our windows, take to social media to show our support, and reach out to those we know personally to thank them for all that they are doing in these uncertain times.
  • Many shelters and food banks are experiencing strain in their endeavors to help those in our community who need it most and even a small donation goes a long way.
  • While cloth masks aren’t recommended as a first line of defense against the virus, they help to preserve what few resources hospitals and others have. With some sewing experience, you can help to make layered cloth masks to donate to those in your area.
  • Finally, bulletin is asking students to submit videos describing what they miss about our campus and what they’re excited to get back to doing. What do you miss most and can’t wait to get back to? I can’t wait to see everyone again!

We are a much smaller group than the global community at large, but together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely,
Maia Giafes '22

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