Stanislaus State students who might be struggling to make ends meet can get a helping hand thanks to the California Faculty Association Campus Cares Funds.
The CFA created the funds to help support the Warrior Food Pantry, the Warrior Clothes Closet, and the Student Emergency Fund, as well as other charitable endeavors to make student-life less stressful.
“We’re able to help minimize some of the distractions for the students,” said Heather Pearson Villeda, director of basic needs for CSUS.
Students are allowed to visit the pantry once a week — Monday through Friday — and stock up on items to help get them through the week. Things such as canned soup, canned tuna, frozen waffles, peanut butter and jelly, milk, cheese, eggs that a student can stretch to help create multiple meals.
The pantry typically serves 800 to 1,000 students per week, or about 160-200 students per day.
Much of the inventory is obtained through Second Harvest Food Bank, with a smaller percentage coming through community donations.
Last month, during the grand reopening of the Save Mart Supermarket on Geer Road, the Warrior Food Pantry received more than $2,600 in donations of groceries and gift cards.
“When we first heard from Save Mart, we thought it was great,” said Pearson Villeda. “There was a lot of energy and a lot of support.”
Public gifts can be made by calling 209-667-3132 and speaking with Food Security Operations Specialist Elaine Suarez, who helps coordinate donations and pertinent tax documents.
“We also have a fund that folks are able to donate into on a one-time basis or a monthly basis,” said Pearson Villeda. “It’s our Food Insecurities Fund and we use that to purchase groceries, whether it’s through Second Harvest or other markets in the area.
“The donation to the fund is likely the easiest way in terms of us strategically managing our stock and ensuring that we have the variety of items that we need.”
You can set up a one-time donation, or a monthly gift, by visiting csustan.edu/give and typing “Campus Cares” in the search field.
“We also have an Amazon cart,” said Pearson Villeda. “If folks want to purchase something directly, we’ve populated that with items that students are typically requesting to support their food security.”
Just as students need nutritious food, there’s also a need for everyday clothing. That’s where the Warrior Clothes Closet can assist. It works the same way as the food pantry, with students allowed to visit once a week and choose one item from each clothing category: T-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, shorts, pants, socks, shoes, sweater.
“We only do that because sometimes we have a limited selection,” said Suarez. “Somebody could come in and take in all the jeans in a certain size. So, we want to make it equitable so everybody has a chance to get what they need.”
The campus also has a “career closet.”
“The career closet has been in operation longer than this (clothes closet) has,” said Pearson Villeda. “The focus there is clothing that someone might wear to an interview or on their first day (of work).
“We do a lot of connection with agencies in all of our areas,” said Pearson Villeda. “Food security and beyond — housing-related pieces, finance-related pieces. It’s community that helps make this happen.”
