Fairmont State awarded food, hygiene support services grant

FAIRMONT, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Fairmont State University has announced that a $5,000 grant has been awarded to upgrade food and hygiene support services for students on campus.

The grant, awarded by the EQT Foundation, will serve to enhance the Fairmont State University Office of Social Work and will assist in better coordinating campus community resources as pertaining to food insecurity and basic needs.

Fairmont State’s on-campus food bank, The Nest – located in the Falcon Center – offers boxed meals, canned foods, snacks, and hygiene products to students in need. An on-campus blessing box operated by Freddie’s Pantry also offers hygiene products and non-perishable food items. to students and community members.

Through the support services grant, food and hygiene products will be obtained for restocking of the campus resources to offer much-needed supplies to students.

“Students cannot succeed if they are sitting in class hungry or have other unmet basic needs,” points out Mike Davis, President at Fairmont State University. “It is essential that we address the external challenges students may face, like food insecurity . The EQT Foundation’s generous gift will allow more students to focus on learning and enjoy their time at Fairmont State without worrying about their next meal.”

The project, it is said, will also serve to nurture collaboration between the aforementioned campus services and Fairmont State University’s Newman Cetner, a Catholic student center which offers various religious and secular activities for students throughout the year.

“This grant will make a significant difference not only for our students here at Fairmont State but for the surrounding community,” says Fairmont University Social Worker and project lead for the grant, Caitlin Jividen. “It allows us to work towards easing the food and basic need insecurities that many individuals are facing. Addressing these needs allows our students to reduce stress and enjoy their time being college students.”