2011 Wright State University Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Report

Engaging campuses in service to the community Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2010-2011: Wright State UniversityThe Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA member strategically connects college resources withcommunities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campusesexpand their civic outreach. Community partners receive critical support. Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity HISTORY & BACKGROUND In the fall of 2009, a group involved in coordinating For more information contact: student service-learning and community service activities VISTA Corps member: Rebecca Fensler at Wright State University discovered that a number of (937) 775-2082 • rebecca.fensler@wright.edu faculty and staff members were encountering students in Site Supervisor: Cathy Sayer need of food. A campus survey revealed that 48% of (937) 775-2471• cathy.sayer@wright.edu students polled had experienced food insecurity while Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director: attending WSU. Food insecurity among students at WSU Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org is the result of several factors. Traditional students www.ohiocampuscompact.org attending college away from home may have access to social services in their home communities, but may have limited access in Greene or Montgomery counties, where the University is located. Many WSU students must balance family with work and school. Some have recently become unemployed. These difficulties have become increasingly problematic for college students during the current economic crisis, especially nontraditional students with families. This discovery led Cathy Sayer, Director of Service-Learning, to seek the assistance of an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Rebecca Fensler, an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA, now serves as coordinator for the WSU Friendship Food Pantry for students. “WSU students at-risk of food insecurity now have a place to go on campus to help meet their basic needs. Faculty and staff often deal with student problems that are outside of the academic realm, but directly impact Under the leadership of Ohio Campus Compact VISTA classroom success. We believe the opening of the Rebecca Fensler, Wright State University established pantry helps students focus on their studies, promotes one of only two food pantries serving students on a retention rates, and creates a campus environment that college campus in Ohio. The mission of the WSU is welcoming of all students” Friendship Food Pantry is to provide emergency food ---DR. SARAH TWILL, PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK, assistance to students in times of need, helping them to WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY stay in school and meet their educational goals. The COMMUNITY IMPACT pantry aligns itself with other campus and community As part of a larger initiative to get WSU service-learning resources and agencies that promote the well-being of students and student volunteers involved in the its students. A dedicated staff of volunteers from the community by serving with agencies and organizations WSU community has served over 115 students since working to combat hunger and homelessness, WSU the pantry’s opening on February 3, 2011. Friendship Food Pantry volunteers have contributed The over 174 hours and have served 126 students in need (continued on reverse)

and 47 of their dependent children. The pantry operates as anemergency pantry, offering three meals a day for two days to students and The VISTA Impacttheir qualifying dependents. This amounts to 1,038 meals served through by the numbers:the pantry so far. Students served: 126Perhaps one of the pantry’s most significant contributions to the local andcampus communities is that it has changed the way people think of college Students’ dependent children served: 47students. Because more people of all backgrounds are attending collegeand a university education is becoming more important, today’s college Total meals: 1,038student may be a first-generation college student, a non-traditionalstudent supporting a family, or someone experiencing unemployment. Number of volunteers: 32College students at WSU, a University where most students commute toclasses, are also members of our local communities. WSU has served Total volunteer hours: 174students who are homeless and students at-risk of becoming homeless.34% of students served through the pantry are supporting families while Money raised: $2,899.98attending WSU.CAMPUS IMPACTSince September 2010, Ohio Campus Compact VISTA, Rebecca Fensler, “The pantry is really helping those studentsand several service-learning faculty members at WSU have engaged 128 that have learned of it and they are beginningservice-learning students and volunteers in service to the food pantry. to pass the word on to other students. It givesCombined they have served over 600 hours. Not only has the pantry them a sense of belonging on our campusmade an impact on students who have helped sort food, organize the and lets them know we do care about theirpantry, and assist student clients, it has made a difference in the lives of well being inside and outside of theover 100 students who have received emergency food and meal cards classroom. Other organizations on campusfrom the pantry. Having heard of the pantry in the local and campus want to learn more about it and what theymedia, many staff and student organizations have planned and can do to help keep it stocked.” ---JOYCEimplemented food drives and fundraisers for the pantry. Students in SMITH, WSU FRIENDSHIP FOOD PANTRYservice-learning classes raised over $500 for the pantry. Generous VOLUNTEERsupport from campus groups and departments, local community membersand alumni, as well as local grocery stores continues to keep the pantry well-stocked. When it first opened in February 2011, the pantry was a About Ohio Campus Compact10x10 room. It was soon apparent that this space would be inadequate AmeriCorps*VISTAfor the pantry’s services. The pantry now consists of three rooms,allowing for ample space for client intake, shopping, and food storage. Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofitRecently, through WSU donor support, the pantry was able to purchase a coalition of colleges and university presidents andrefrigerator so that students in need can receive dairy products, bread, their campuses working to promote the civicand produce along with their non-perishables. The expansion of pantry purposes of higher education. Ohio Campusservices is a testament to the generosity of the local and campus Compact provides resources, services &communities and WSU’s dedication to helping at-risk students succeed in partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen theirmeeting their educational goals. ability to educate students for civic and social responsibility and to improve community life.KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: OPPORTUNITIES FORTHE FUTURE AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded asIn collaboration with staff from Student Affairs, Student Support and Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 andHealth Services, as well as service-learning faculty, the WSU Friendship incorporated into the AmeriCorps network ofFood Pantry was able to serve students in need by providing emergency programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the frontfood and referral services in a way that could not have been possible lines in the fight against poverty in America forwithout this collaborative effort. The pantry should look to expand the more than 40 years.services it provides even further by offering Ohio Benefit Bank services aswell as working with local growers to provide fresh produce to students. The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*Further, in order to ensure long-term sustainability of pantry services, VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs whoWright State should look to institutionalizing the position of Food Pantry create and expand programs designed to bringCoordinator under the umbrella of Student Affairs or an expanded individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAsCenter for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement which would allow for serve in the poorest areas of their communities toservice-learning students and student and staff volunteers to serve in the tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger andpantry under a coordinator in either office. This type of institutionalization homelessness, financial literacy, veteran studentwould assure that volunteers are recruited and trained and that food and services, public health and college access. Moremonetary resources will continue to meet the needs of WSU students. information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org

2011 Wright State University Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Report

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2011 Wright State University Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Report Document Transcript