Supporting the Basic Needs Collective
by DAISY THOMAS
College and grad school is stressful and can be overwhelming, but for students struggling with the basics -- defined as the economic, food, and housing insecurities -- the negative impacts are exponential, directly impacting health, well-being, and ability to succeed. The aim of the Basic Needs Collective is to support student inclusion, safety, and success through multifaceted approaches and coordinated resources and support.
The Basic Needs Collective (BNC) is comprised of Student Success Advocates, LGBT Resource Center, Women's Resource Center, Career and Professional Development, Mental Health, Wellness, Personal Resiliency support, and Financial Wellness Office, among other offices, and centers student success and access through a network of University Professionals and local community organizations, collaborating and communicating efforts in providing students resources, education, and necessary funding for their success on and off campus. To learn more about their partner organizations, please check this out.
On February 23 & 24, 2021, the University of Utah's Second Annual U Giving Day takes place and the BNC needs our support as they seek to provide a central location for resources related to food insecurity, affordable housing, health insurance, managing finances, legal services, and mental health. This past year's ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has seen an increased need for such coordinated assistance. A centralized resource hub allows students to seek and receive appropriate resources.
In the words of University of Utah alumnus / writer, educator, conservationist, and activist Terry Tempest Williams, "It is in our nature to want to help, to serve, to be part of something larger than ourselves. We have a desire to connect with others. We want to make a difference in the world. I would call this a spiritual longing to be whole, interrelated, interconnected."
Help uplift these students by making an Individual Gift to the Basic Needs Collective and sharing this information via phone call, email, or social media posts with your circles, encouraging them to join you in making a gift or helping to spread awareness.
For more information on the U's Giving Day, check out the website here.