The Alvin College Student Resource Center has provided the support that students need after a year of its partnership with the Houston Food Bank.
“We definitely see a lot if advantages with this partnership and we are definitely hoping that it continues to grow and help more students,” said Lilly Guu, director of Accessibility & Counseling Services for Alvin College.
According to a recent report from the Foodbank, the college provided services to 233 students with more than 63,665 meals distributed with 76,399 of food. The distributed food had an economic impact of more than $90,000 for the community.
“This lets us see that we’re also helping their families,” said Roxie Patton, the Social Services specialist for the college. “That helps students continue to stay in school.”
According to a recent survey of Alvin College students, 40 percent reported being food insecure and 34 percent reported being housing insecure. The survey also showed that 50 percent of those who participated reported that they worry about having enough funding to pay their monthly expenses and 27 percent reported running out of money more than eight times in the past year.
The Alvin College Student Resource Center was created in 2024 to help students who have various needs in order to stay in school. The Resource Center is a one-stop location to offer students support to help keep them on the path to finish their education. Students can receive not only food but also clothing, toiletries and other necessities.
“We started the Student Resource Center two years ago with a dream and an empty room,” Guu said. “Slowly we collected donations and then we formalized our partnership with the Foodbank.”
The Resource Center has received financial support from the Alvin College Foundation. To learn more about how to help with the Center, visit www.alvincollege.edu/foundation. Supporters can also purchase items on an Alvin College Amazon Wishlist for students in need at http://Bit.ly/supportACCstudents.