With rising prices in grocery stores, rent price hikes and expensive on-campus dining options, students might be feeling left to fend for themselves.
Oregon State University does have options for those students, such as consulting through Counseling and Psychological Services, legal support, emergency funding and much more.
However, one of the options is more than just a one trick pony– the Basic Needs Center has been evolving to help students since the early 2000s, starting with only one program that quickly grew due to student interest and rising need.
Presently, the BNC offers a variety of support ranging from food, housing, budgeting and learning how to live with limited resources.
These programs include the food pantry, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application advising, free laundry, hygiene pantry, as well as textbook help and other resources depending on the term.
The BNC is open at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and peer navigators are available once the building is open.
Andrea Norris, a peer-aid coordinator at the BNC said students “can come in, see the space, get familiar with the staff and be able to ask casual questions in a casual environment and make some kind of fun craft.”
While materials are always available, according to Norris, Mondays of fall term will be considered crafting days that everyone is welcome to attend.
The BNC’s food pantry is on Wednesdays, with staples such as rice, pasta, sauce, ramen, beans and many more. Once a student has finished their walk through of the pantry, they get a bag full of fresh fruit and vegetables with the option to swap if nothing is to their liking.
The hygiene pantry, located on the first floor directly across from the elevator, is open whenever the building is. While smaller than the food pantry, it has free tampons, pads, soap for hair or body, toothpaste and more. There also is a single-user bathroom with a shower to use if needed.
With high rent and lower income, according to the dean of students website, peer navigators are trained to help students come up with budgeting strategies before the risk of homelessness becomes a reality.
For students living off campus without access to free laundry, the BNC also has a few washers and dryers that can be used for an upwards of two hours by appointment. All the forms needed for this program can be found on the front page of the BNC website under the laundry tab.
According to the website, many of the BNC’s programs were built by students for students. Students do not need an appointment; they can drop in anytime to talk to a Peer Navigator. Food Pantries are on most Wednesdays – this is the only service available to the wider community; all other programs are for students only.
For help or appointment scheduling, visit the Basic Needs Center website.
