Иммигрантка из Малави создала фонд помощи студентам и новым жителям США

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- Jacqueline Kalipeni says her calling is helping people with whom she shares a special connection. She's an immigrant from Malawi.  "It is of the people to do for the people," Kalipeni said. "Coming to America, my parents needed a village, and a village was provided for them by regular everyday people."  This gave Kalipeni the idea to provide the same support system. She started off small.  Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would send clothes, and I would pay for girls to go to school," she said.  Now, she has The Kalipeni Foundation with a storage unit filled with household items and supplies. "I learned that students didn't have groceries. They didn't have shampoo," Kalipeni said. She has bedding, pots, pans, wheelchairs and more — all for the people she helps. Many of them are University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students.  "America is hard. There's only so many things that you can pack to come to America," Kalipeni said. She started this nonprofit more than a decade ago, and she said many changes have happened.  Advertisement Advertisement "I want to make sure regardless of what's happening, what grants are available, what grants aren't available, what government is assisting, what government is not assisting, there is still help provided," she said.  For people moving to America or new citizens, Kalipeni said she can be a resource.  "You need a village, because when you're thinking about, 'I need a fork and a spoon,' somebody in your village has a fork and a spoon," she said.  For those who would like to donate to The Kalipeni Foundation, here is the website. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.