Navigating the Coronavirus

E4 | Sunday, June 14, 2020 | lmtonline.com | Laredo Morning Times 50th Anniversary From a community garden, resum- ing traditional community service events, continuing student education and providing necessary items to essential workers, TAMIU worked alongside many frontline workers to aid during the pandemic. As the stay-at-home ordinances restricted families to their homes and only allowed them to go out to buy groceries, many stepped out to prepare. Lines were long, and many would be unable to purchase the items they needed including senior citizens, handicapped citizens and anyone with specific vulnerability to the virus. To provide some relief, 50 bags of vegetables from the garden were handed out to TAMIU students, faculty, staff and the general public in May. According to the university, the garden was established in 2016 to be a source of locally farmed produce for students on campus. Addition- ally, Dr. Marcela Uribe, the Service- Learning Center Director, said that she hoped it would attract volunteers to learn more about sustainability and food production. In 2020, it un- doubtedly proved useful and was a good example of preparing for the unexpected. “Individuals interested in becom- ing part of the council will be able to take care of the garden, help orga- nize community events, learn more about growing their own food and offer support to future service-learn- ing courses that might participate in the garden,” Uribe said. Building a home for a local veteran TAMIU associate athletic direc- tor Dan Lathey and members of TAMIU athletics helped in the com- Courtesy of TAMIU TAMIU athletics members helped to build a home for a local homeless veteran.