On Nov. 19, Chancellor Javier A. Reyes sent the following message to the UMass Amherst community sharing updates about the support provided by the university and campus partners to students impacted by the Olympia Drive fire.
 

Dear UMass community,

The outpouring of support following the fire at Olympia Place on November 7 has been extraordinary. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our community, both on and off campus. From national disaster response agencies to individual alumni, businesses and local non-profits, we have seen a profound example of the power of community.

I also want to reiterate the university’s deep gratitude for the first responders of Amherst and the 32 mutual aid partners from Hampshire, Hamden, Franklin, Worcester and Berkshire counties who answered the call and brought us through this disaster without any physical injuries.

In the days immediately following the fire, many local businesses, residents and the campus community reached out to ask how they could help the 230 students displaced by the fire. I write to share updates on those efforts and ask you to join me in gratitude. 

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the Office of Emergency Management and the Dean of Students Office coordinated the campus response to support affected students. An Emergency Resource Center was activated and staffed, bringing together campus and community representatives to help students access necessary resources.
 

Important: Dining Update

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, Olympia Place residents received access to dining halls at no charge. While dining operations were scheduled to return to normal operations this week, students have reached out for additional support. On Tuesday, November 18, dining halls resumed regular operations, and the Dean of Students Office provided students with emergency meal swipes ensuring that every student had at least 10 swipes. The Dean of Students Office has received several requests for additional dining swipes.  

Dining Services is now extending access to campus dining halls at no charge to Olympia Place residents through the end of the semester. Dining Services will ensure that each resident has at least 100 meal swipes – more than necessary for three meals per day. Dining will monitor accounts to ensure students maintain access.
 

The Student Care and Emergency Response Fund (SCERF)

The Student Care and Emergency Response Fund (SCERF), administered by the Dean of Students Office, provides emergency microgrants to students facing unexpected financial emergencies. The Dean of Students Office suspended the standard microgrant process and removed the $500 limit to support those impacted by the fire. 

Thanks to an extraordinary outpouring of generosity from our community, the Dean of Students Office is distributing $310,500 via microgrant awards of $1,350 to each student. These grants do not need to be repaid.

Since 2020, not including the support provided to the Olympia Place students, the Dean of Students Office has provided $370,000 in microgrants to over 700 students experiencing financial emergencies including car repairs, medical expenses, unexpected travel due to family emergencies, housing displacement, and more.
 

New2U and Clothing and Household Donations

Within hours of the fire, students across campus began setting up informal clothing drop-offs. The speed, kindness, and coordination this took in the early hours of Saturday morning were inspiring. 

With the support of 116 volunteers, the university coordinated the pickup, sorting, and distribution of these materials through New2U, the campus thrift store. Every Olympia Place resident has been given unlimited access to clothing and toiletries at no charge, along with a voucher for household items; to date, more than 350 items have been picked up by Olympia residents.
 

The Red Cross and Salvation Army

Both the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services responded to Olympia Drive within hours of the fire starting, and both have remained in close coordination with the Emergency Resources Center Team over the past two weeks. Beyond offering direct financial support and emergency care needs through the resource centers, staff and volunteers from both organizations have provided emotional and spiritual care, connection to their vast support networks, and more to both first responders and affected students.
 

Technology Support and Community Contributions

UMass Amherst Information Technology provided loaner laptops for students who lost devices in the fire, and temporary smartphones were also made available to those who needed them.

Businesses and organizations from the region have also donated their services, goods, and time to help our students recover from the losses they incurred. I know that these contributions, from new clothing to free use of a local laundromat, have been greatly appreciated.
 

What’s Next

As the immediate crisis-response phase comes to a close, some students will continue to face financial challenges both from this fire and other events that interrupt their lives and studies. UMass continues to work with these students to meet their needs, and we ask for your continued support of SCERF and all UMass students, now and in the future. 

I also invite you to join us for a Unity Walk in support of Olympia Drive students. The walk is scheduled from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20. The walk will begin at the UMass Recreation Center with brief remarks, followed by a walk through campus, and will conclude with light refreshments at the Rec Center.

On behalf of all of us of charged with supporting our students, I extend the university’s deepest gratitude. Thank you for coming together as One UMass. 

Sincerely,
Javier A. Reyes
Chancellor