Many college students who are slated to live in a dorm face the struggle of having to purchase brand new items. More often than not, these items will run up the bill—a bill that students and parents typically take on.

Latia Green Allen (’94) created a nonprofit organization, Dorm Fairies, in 2019 to assist individuals with purchasing dorm room essentials. The goal is to lessen new students’ financial burden. 

“When my youngest daughter moved in [to college], I noticed a lot of students coming with one suitcase or just one box of supplies,” she said. She realized that many families struggle with being able to purchase new items and that “dorm room essentials were not at the top of students’ and their parents’ lists,” compared to tuition, textbooks and computers.

Dorm Fairies awarded its first recipient in 2019. Last year, the nonprofit awarded six students and their families. 

Recipients are chosen based on need and family situations. Allen and her team encourage the recipients to create a registry at their store of choice. From there, Dorm Fairies purchases up to $525 worth of dorm room items and necessities and has them shipped to the recipient’s home.

By working behind the scenes, Allen and her team are able to provide the items without directly interacting with recipients and their families—a welcome benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Although we are not there when they decorate their rooms with family and friends, we want to supply them with the items needed to do so,” Allen said. 

Despite the pandemic, Dorm Fairies' goal to award 10 students for the 2021-22 school year remains.