UHCL students in attendance of a “Grocery Bingo” event hosted on campus experienced both how UHCL grant-funded programs were available and went beyond just the game.
Hosted on September 7 by the UHCL Dean of Students Office (DOS) and Student Housing in Hunter Hall, the event drew a crowd of around 25 students to engage with these educational resources in a creative manner.
The event kicked off with a speech from DOS Project Coordinator Annabelle Camero, informing attendees about the variety of free and local confidential support services offered through DOS. Between marking their cards and cheering for prizes, students were informed of free meals, tech support, and campus resources available to help them succeed in and out of the classroom.
“I hope students realize that there is support on campus. We are here for them, and we want to see them thrive,” said Camero. “They can always come to us if they need assistance in any part of their life.”
While support was heavily emphasized, it also came with the news that the federally funded Basic Needs Grant, which has been an ongoing source of this support for the past three years, will expire after the end of this semester.
“It’s definitely a bittersweet moment,” Camero said. “But even though the grant is ending, the support structure is still here. We still have the Hawk Pantry, and our office can refer students to community partners.”
The event’s main purpose was to raise awareness about the community support programs here at UHCL, while also offering participants the chance to win useful grocery-themed prizes. These services will help students in need of assistance, encouraging them to stay enrolled and focused on their coursework.
This was why the event was aiming to be positive in promoting the remaining active resources provided by the grant.
Some of the services include:
- Hawk Pantry and Meal Assistance: Located in the Student Services & Classrooms Building (Suite 2.103), where students can access free meals, toiletries, hygiene, household goods, and school supplies.
- Basic Needs Grant: Receive up to $1000 in a one-time fund for anything related to food, housing, transportation, mental and physical health, childcare, and technology.
- Tech Pack*: Provides free laptops and accessories upon proof of your current device’s need for replacement.
*It is important to note that the Tech Pack is provided through the Basic Needs Grant and will only be available while supplies last.
Once attendees were provided with the information regarding UHCL’s available resources, the “Grocery Bingo” game began! The rounds were structured in the standard bingo pattern of five in a row, excluding the last round, where the attendees had a majority consensus to do a blackout round.
“I knew there was probably a program on campus, but I didn’t have any details about it before this,” said Jill Fallin, a student participant and lucky bingo winner at the event.
Prize packs included multiple themed kits (movie night, breakfast, hygiene, and cleaning).
These were donated by the Hawk Pantry, which in turn also provided insight into the types of resources the program can provide to them, ensuring that every participant went home with something helpful.
The uplifting atmosphere during the event served as an important reminder that community support, whether fun or not, is critical in aiding those facing less-stable financial situations.
“It was good to have a refresher on what UHCL has, or any changes they’ve had, to use this information for the future,” said Chloe Curtis, another student participant.
With all attendees having been made aware of the Hawk Pantry, Basic Needs Grant, and Tech Pack programs right at the start of the semester, the attendees were left from the very get-go with some helpful tools to manage whatever obstacles they may face throughout the coming months.
For more information about the programs mentioned, or to access these services yourself, you can email Annabelle Camero at [email protected] or visit the following pages to learn more and take advantage of these campus community resources:
2 responses to ““Grocery Bingo” connects students with campus resources”
I love seeing this featured! Excellent writing by Miss Juliana Brooks!
Grocery Bingo was a great collaboration between the Dean of Students Office and Student Housing and Residential Life! Most importantly, the event provided a safe and engaging atmosphere for students to learn about the basic needs services and resources at UHCL.