In April of 2020, I listened to my mother recount stressful days as an ER nurse, saying that she didn’t feel safe at work because there wasn’t enough personal protective equipment to go around. I watched as friends grieved the loss of loved ones. I listened to my grandmother tell me over the phone how scary and isolating the new safety policies in her nursing home were.

Watching the pandemic unfold while being stuck at home, I felt helpless and confused. And I wasn't alone— so many of us were quarantined at home, wanting to help, but not knowing how. I realized that all we needed was something to bridge the gap between the sectors in need with the people who wanted to do anything they could to help.

So, with a few friends, we started reaching out to organizations in affected sectors to see how we could help. Our first team consisted of two members sending emails to interested volunteers with opportunities personalized for their skills and resources. We began expanding our executive team, gaining more volunteers, establishing partnerships with other organizations, and even organizing our own IWC initiatives. Here we are today, a fully student-run non-profit with volunteers like you at the heart of our organization.

— Sophie Yang, IWC Founder