Citrus College team provides vital support to students in need
A crackling yule log video, lively music and gift bags filled with treats created a festive atmosphere when the Citrus College Basic Needs program joined forces with the Dream Resource Center to host their annual holiday lunch last month.
Approximately 50 students attended the fun-filled event, which took place a day after basic needs hosted an ally training for faculty and staff.
According to Alexis Silva, basic needs program coordinator, these events are two examples of how Citrus College supports students who are facing various challenges related to food, housing and other essential resources.
"I would describe our office as dedicated," she said. "As a team of two, we are constantly trying to implement new ideas on how we can better support the students at Citrus College to reach their academic goals. Our priority is to help our students and ensure their basic needs are met."
This semester, the Citrus College Basic Needs program aided more than 1,000 students. This assistance included providing access to food pantries, emergency shelter resources, hygiene products, technology, campus showers and more.
In addition, representatives from Medi-Cal and CalFresh were invited to the campus to help students apply for services, and a mobile food pantry visits the campus once a month.
"Through a combination of personalized support, technological integration and diverse resources, our office demonstrates a comprehensive approach to addressing student needs that is more extensive than what is found at many other colleges," Silva said. "We will continue to grow in the months and years ahead because we are always looking for more resources to provide to our students."
This article originally appeared in the December 2024 edition of the Citrus View.