Providence College students make security guard’s dream come true

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence College students in Raymond Hall said the community they built is a family and the bond they have created with James, their overnight security guard in the dorm, has become a big part of that.

The students decided to surprise James Wednesday night with the funds to travel home to see his family all the way in Nigeria for the first time in 11 years.

“Once we learned that James had not seen his family in over a decade, that is what kickstarted this for us,” freshman Brandon Reichert said. “We take care of our own and we firmly believe James is one of our own.”

With the help of their Resident Assistant Daniel, these students set up a GoFundMe just last week.

They received 230 donations and raised just shy of $7,000 so far.

An envelope with $3,000 was given to James Wednesday night.

“He is someone you are drawn towards; he is really kind and compassionate,” sophomore Daniel Singh said. “After a long day you go out on a Friday night after class and James is there.”

James started working at Providence College earlier in the school year.

“What is so special is the impact James has had on all of us,” Dean of Students Steven Sears said. “His reaction and the authenticity not only for this group and the students involved with him and the care, and what he said at the end is that he is praying for them, he is praying for their success, and that God watches over them and that he does that everyday.”

The students said James will be making his trip in June.

“He is such a good role model for all of us,” Sears said.

This is the link to the GoFundMe page.