Bellaire International Student Association (BISA) hosted its Houston Welcomes Refugees Supply Drive starting Nov. 11 and lasting through Nov. 22. The club partnered with Houston Welcomes Refugees, a nonprofit organization that helps refugees start a life in Houston, to supply personal care kits for refugee families.

BISA co-president Stacey Shih was looking for ways to expand BISA’s service projects outside of Bellaire. When their outreach team found Houston Welcomes Refugees, Shih knew it was “a really great [organization] to get started with.”

“We wanted to give back to the refugee community by partnering with [Houston Welcomes Refugees,] an organization that other clubs haven’t partnered with yet,” Shih said. “Partnering with the organization is in line with BISA’s mission to spread culture and cultural awareness.”

BISA requested hygiene supplies such as toothbrushes, soap and lotion. The donations collected were organized by BISA members on Dec. 3 during Cardinal Hour. The club will donate the supplies to Houston Welcomes Refugees who will create care kits with the donations and distribute them among refugee families.

“We’re looking to contribute about four to seven boxes, or four to seven kits for the organization,” Shih said. “That would translate to about four to seven families. We’re really excited to help that organization.”

Historian Parisa Gopal hopes the supply dive will make an impact in the refugee community.

“[The supply drive is] a small but direct way for us to make a difference in people’s lives and show that our community cares,” Gopal said. “I hope it will go to someone who really needs it, and I hope it’ll make a difference in their day-to-day life.”

The donations BISA collected will be given to Houston Welcomes Refugees on Dec. 4. Keep up with BISA by joining their Remind @bisaclub or following their Instagram @bisaclub.