The Ethiopian community in Rochester is raising thousands of donations for four students after a tragic car accident

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Four international students from Minnesota State University Mankato from Ethiopia were sent to the hospital in late September after a three-vehicle accident in Le Sueur County. One of the people suffered life-threatening injuries, the others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The students were returning to Mankato from their first clinicals of the semester in St. Peter, Minnesota, according to mutual friend Kaleb Betwos. He said he launched a GoFundMe fundraiser three days after the accident to cover students’ living expenses and needs while they are unable to work.

“It was shocking,” Betwos said. “It was on the news. I didn’t know what to expect until I got to the hospital and saw it for myself.”

Betwos stated that all students have been released from Mayo Clinic and are working with the university to get back on track. He said after learning of the four women’s situation, the Ethiopian community in Rochester rallied to help the students.

“We didn’t know her before,” said Betwos. “They were just strangers to us and it was one of the nurses who came in with one of her friends and let the entire community know how much we needed help.”

The message spread quickly and members of the Ethiopian community joined in to help not only the students, but also family, friends and other university students. People prepared three meals a day, provided shelter and offered emotional support during this time.

“It’s just beautiful,” he said. “There’s been a lot of conflict and war back home in the last few years and I saw the community come together in this way and help someone they didn’t even know. No distinction by race or nationality or whatever, it’s just beautiful.

Since the GoFundMe was launched, more than $33,000 had been raised as of Wednesday evening. Betwos said he was grateful to the local Ethiopian community given the well-known struggles they have endured in their homeland.

“We thought it would just be the students coming in and helping, but given the community we rely on, it’s on everyone’s hearts,” he said. “I want to reflect that, even though you know we can’t. “We’re reaching out to every part of the community that has helped us, but we can at least get this story out there so they know how grateful we are.”

If you are interested in donating to the fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe website.

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