COCJ Students Assemble Care Packages for Victims

COCJ Students Assemble Care Packages for Victims

On Oct. 28, as part of an Academic Community Engagement (ACE) project, Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice (SHSU-COCJ) students in Jessica Fleming’s victimology course partnered with Project Beloved and SAAFE House to assemble 70 Beloved Bundles for sexual assault survivors.

The bundles contain clothing, undergarments, hygiene products and other necessities for survivors who may have had their belongings collected as evidence during a forensic medical examination. The assembled bundles were provided to SAAFE House advocates for distribution at three local hospitals.

“Maybe this is just five minutes out of my day, but those five minutes could shape the way these victims view the system,” said victim studies student Kiana Rodriguez.

With plans to become an emergency telecommunicator after graduating from SHSU, Rodriguez shared that this project helped improve her interpersonal skills, enabling her to assist victims with an empathy-centered approach.

“Through this experience, I was able to learn that we have gaps in our criminal justice system that often give more attention to offenders than victims,” she said.

The collaboration offered students a meaningful, hands-on experience linking classroom learning to community-based victim support services.

“Through assembling Beloved Bundles, students are gaining insight into how individuals in their community and in general are being supported through trauma-informed care and coordinated responses from community organizations and professionals who collaborate to meet survivors’ immediate needs,” Fleming said.

Students also engaged in a debriefing session to reflect on what they learned from the experience and were tasked with recording their thoughts in a reflection paper. For extra credit, they can write a personal letter to Tracy Matheson, the founder of Project Beloved.

“During the debriefing session, one of the most impactful insights I discussed was how eye-opening it was to realize the reality of the individuals who would be receiving the Beloved Bundles,” said victim studies student Angelica Rivas. “Contributing to something tangible that can provide comfort, dignity and a sense of hope truly stayed with me. It reinforced the importance of compassion in victim-centered work.”

For Rivas, seeing these challenges firsthand has provided her with valuable insights as she prepares for a career as a family lawyer.

“I will be working closely with people experiencing trauma, legal uncertainty and major life transitions,” she said. “This project helped me build empathy, awareness and a deeper commitment to advocating for those who need support. It showed me how important it is to approach victims with understanding and respect, something I plan to carry with me into my legal career.”

The impact of this project was evident not only to students but also to the organizations involved, who received increased support for their mission to advance victim assistance.

“We are so grateful for the support from the students at SHSU,” Matheson said.  “We count on volunteers in local communities to assemble and deliver Beloved Bundles, and it is especially heart-warming to involve college students in such meaningful work.”