Help Posse College Students Rebuild After Theft

Hi everyone,

My name is Giovanny Barrera, and I’m a college student at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. I’m part of a close-knit group of nine students from Los Angeles, known as a Posse, who came to Dickinson together to pursue our education, leadership, and goals far from home.

This past week, just as we were returning to campus to start our sophomore year, we were hit with devastating news. On the morning of August 15th, my posse mate Nevaeh went to our shared storage unit at Hillside Storage in Carlisle to get her things, only to find that our unit had been broken into and completely emptied out.

We lost everything we had stored there over the summer.

Over $20,000 worth of belongings were stolen, including:

• Clothing and shoes

• Bedding, pillows, towels, and other dorm necessities

• Mini fridges, microwaves, and fans

• School supplies, books, and materials

• Game consoles, electronics, and personal tech

• Family heirlooms and sentimental items we can never replace

We had chosen to keep everything in storage to avoid the cost and stress of shipping items back and forth to LA during summer break. It took four days for all nine of us to load our things into that unit, and in a moment, it was all gone.

To make matters worse, the storage facility admitted that they have no cameras, no security system, and no clear explanation of how this could have happened. We paid our monthly fees on time, trusted that our belongings would be protected, and now we’re left with nothing.

We are all low-income students and people of color. Coming from LA to a predominantly white institution in rural Pennsylvania, we’ve worked hard to build community and feel safe in a space that isn’t always made for us. This experience has been not only financially devastating, but emotionally overwhelming.

We’re reaching out to ask for your help so we can start rebuilding, even just the basics to continue our school year with dignity, safety, and the resources we need. Your donations will go toward:

• Replacing clothing, bedding, and daily essentials

• Buying school supplies and textbooks

• Replacing dorm items like fans, storage bins, cookware, etc.

• Supporting each of us in regaining what we lost

Every dollar helps, no matter the amount. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing our story. We’re incredibly grateful for any support you can offer.

Thank you for standing with us and helping us feel seen and supported during this difficult time.

With love and appreciation,

Giovanny & the Dickinson LA Posse