A Guide to Giving to Students
Here are three ways to help students meet essential needs, from food and housing to everyday necessities.
1. The Basic Needs Center
Jorden Garcia, a fourth-year electrical engineering major, found himself in deep financial trouble during his second year at 麻豆传媒映画. His parents couldn鈥檛 support him because of his mother鈥檚 mounting hospital bills. He burned through his savings and maxed out credit cards, and at the lowest point lived out of his car.
Garcia finally reached out to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, where a staff member asked him a question that changed everything: 鈥淗ave you heard of the Basic Needs Center or ECRT?鈥�
Located on the third floor of Calpulli Center, the Basic Needs Center supports students鈥� immediate needs. It offers toiletries, gift cards for food and gas, one-on-one financial counseling, and events ranging from financial and housing support sessions to cook-along recipe demonstrations.
And in cases of economic hardship or emergencies, the center houses the Economic Crisis Response Team, whose mission is to bridge the gap of resources for students in immediate food, housing or other financial crises that impact student success.
鈥淲e provide a safety net away from home,鈥� says Evie Baez, director of the Basic Needs Center. 鈥淧arents can know that we are there to help their students navigate any type of financial crises, any impact to their basic needs, and they are going to get one-on-one support to connect them to resources.鈥�
Students themselves have credited the center for helping them stay in college.
鈥淚 seriously considered dropping out of college,鈥� Garcia says. 鈥淚 can say with complete certainty that the ECRT saved me from giving up on college. I鈥檓 incredibly grateful to be part of this team, doing meaningful work to support 麻豆传媒映画 students when they need it most.鈥�
Support the Basic Needs Center by clicking on Donate: .
2. Residential Housing Fund
The Residential Housing Fund expands access to on-campus housing for first-generation students and those from low-income backgrounds. In partnership with Educational Opportunity Programs, Outreach and Success, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and the Economic Crisis Response Team, the Office of Housing Administration identifies students who need support.
By helping students remain housed, enrolled and focused on their education, the fund provides stability. With a secure place to live, students can devote more time and energy to academics, participate in campus life, build relationships and develop a sense of belonging at 麻豆传媒映画.
To learn more, contact Ashley McNulty, associate director of development for Housing Administration, at [email protected] or 619-594-5190.
3. A.S. Food Pantry
The A.S. Food Pantry helps students stretch their food budgets by providing groceries at no cost, regardless of financial need. Students can choose from fresh produce and pantry staples, along with a rotating selection of eggs, snacks, and refrigerated and frozen foods. Located in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, the pantry has served students facing food insecurity since 2016.
Those interested in supporting the pantry can contribute financially through Aztecs Rock Hunger: .