iFriends has become a hub for international students in the Hub City. Each year, more than 100 students arrive in Hattiesburg, and for many of them, iFriends provides that first sense of connection and support.
The group began in 2007 as a Facebook group created by Kathy Pope, a community volunteer and now coordinator of iFriends and Association of International Ministries – Hattiesburg Inc., along with her husband Randy. At the time, their goal was to organize social events and welcome new students with goody-bags during international student orientation.
That mission expanded in 2014, when Pope realized the practical challenges many students face when they first arrive.
“In the Fall of 2014, a new student from Nepal said, ‘I really appreciate the goody-bag, but do you have any mattresses? My roommates and I have been sleeping on the floor for a week,’” Pope said. “I didn’t have any mattresses, and I felt really sad. All I could afford at the time was some air mattresses for them. With 100+ new students arriving every Fall, the need was greater than my resources. I didn’t imagine that God would actually provide the resources, but in time, he did.”
That same year, Pope partnered with churches around Hattiesburg and started AIM-Hattiesburg, which became a nonprofit in 2022. The organization aims to help international students, especially newcomers, settle in Hattiesburg by providing essentials such as mattresses, utensils, and furniture. This support is made possible by raising awareness in the Hattiesburg community and pooling resources through donations.
AIM now partners with other institutions on campus as well. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AIM collaborated with AIM churches, the Baptist Student Union, The Wesley, the USM Foundation and the Association of Office Personnel to help international students stay afloat.
For students, the impact was immediate. Sophomore international student Dhiman Jett remembers moving into an empty apartment with no furniture.
“Mrs. Pope gave me an air mattress and even helped me move a secondhand table I bought,” he said. “Anytime I’ve needed support, whether it’s tax forms, transportation, or just getting started, iFriends has been there. It might seem like just a Facebook group, but it’s not. It’s a family.”
Beyond that, the Facebook group serves as a hub where students can request rides, exchange furniture, and find information about housing or cultural events.
Pope said the goal remains the same: making international students feel at home.
“Our hope is that this spirit of hospitality and generosity that we share in iFriends will influence the culture of our city and our campus, and that students will carry it with them wherever they go,” she said.
Last Saturday, iFriends organized its annual “Welcome to Hattiesburg” party, held every fall to connect the community with new international students.
