PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — On a frigid February afternoon — two days before the historic Blizzard of 2026 arrived in full force — small groups of students, faculty and staff from Brown University fanned out across Providence, canvas bags in hand, making stops at local restaurants, shops and office buildings. Inside each bag were Brown knit hats, reusable water bottles and handwritten notes of appreciation.
At Brown Bee Coffee on Benefit Street, third-year medical student Anisha Baktha greeted owner Waleed Ghazi with a smile. “We’re Brown students, and we just wanted to say thank you,” she said.
Ghazi, who had offered free pastries to students in the days following the tragic Dec. 13 shooting on Brown’s campus, looked pleasantly surprised. “That’s very kind — you didn’t have to do that,” he said. “I appreciate you stopping in — and for being a part of our community.”
The visit was one of many that will take place through mid-March as part of Brown Loves Providence, a campus-wide initiative created to reciprocate the care and compassion shown to the University by local residents, businesses and first responders in the aftermath of the December attack. Since its Valentine’s Day launch, the effort has mobilized hundreds of participants who have penned personal thank-you notes, displayed “Brown Loves Providence” posters, and directed their purchasing power toward city merchants and nonprofits.
Baktha, who also earned her bachelor’s degree from Brown in 2023, said Providence has become her second home — making it especially meaningful to join the effort to express gratitude to the people who stood by Brown.
“After Dec. 13, the generosity of local businesses brought us comfort and closeness when we needed it most,” Baktha said. “Brown Loves Providence is our way of saying thank you to those business owners and workers — and of honoring the togetherness that carries us through difficult times. Delivering these bags has been a powerful reminder that we’re not alone as we continue to heal and move forward.”
Turning appreciation into action
In the days and weeks after the tragedy, local communities rallied around Brown in extraordinary ways. First responders and state officials worked day and night to safeguard campus, while local businesses offered hot meals and filled storefronts and social media with “PVD loves Brown” messages of solidarity. Neighbors opened their homes to those seeking a meal or rest, and community partners and Brown alumni in the area organized transportation to ensure students could reach airports and train stations for an unplanned, early start to the winter break.
Matthew Guterl, Brown’s vice president for diversity and inclusion, said the people of Providence and Rhode Island surrounded Brown with an outpouring of love and support.
“The city, including elected officials, first responders, local business owners and neighbors, really stood up for us,” Guterl said. “Providence wrapped its arms around the University that night and held us tight in the weeks that followed. They helped to get us through to the other side of this terrible shooting. For this, we owe them our heartfelt thanks.”
Many Brown staff members, including Meagan Pepper-Estes, a program coordinator in the Division of Biology and Medicine, are turning their appreciation into action by coordinating group lunches and dinners at local establishments.
