Basic Needs Center helps Buffs overcome barriers

Anna Tolette — Thu, 01 May 2025 19:41:05 +0000

Basic Needs Center helps Buffs overcome barriers Anna Tolette Thu, 05/01/2025 - 13:41

Ways to contribute to the Basic Needs Center

Support the center in a way that works for you, from volunteering to financial donations.

Volunteering

The Basic Needs Center runs on a team of professional staff and volunteers. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members can sign up to volunteer for the following opportunities:

Buff Pantry

Mobile Food Pantries

Swipe It Forward

Buffs Boxes

Donate food or goods

The Basic Needs Center accepts donations of food and personal care items to stock the Buff Pantry and mobile food pantries.

Buff Pantry food donations: The Buff Pantry accepts shelf-stable items with at least a three-month window to expiration.

Shop the Amazon wish list: You can select items and ship them directly to the center.

Make a financial donation

The Basic Needs Center is fully donor-funded. Contributions ensure students receive help, both now and in the future. You can donate to the Basic Needs Center Discretionary Fund, which funds operations at the center.

When Sam* lost everything in a devastating apartment fire just two months before graduation, the University of Colorado Boulder’s Basic Needs Center became a lifeline, offering critical aid to help them stay in school and graduate on time. The center helped schedule legal advising with Student Legal Services, provided emergency housing assistance and food aid, and offered financial relief.

“The Basic Needs Center had a profound impact on my life during a time of unimaginable crisis,” Sam said. “Their unwavering support allowed me to stay on track with my education and graduate.”

A staple of support

Sam’s story is only one example of the center’s impact. Since opening in 2022, the Basic Needs Center has become a staple of support for thousands of students, connecting them to resources that help them thrive.

Over the last three years, the center has added programs and expanded its outreach to help foster a sense of belonging by allowing students to focus on their education without the burden of food and housing insecurity. Today, the center assists students through financial assistance for housing, emergency housing placement, SNAP benefit enrollment, a food pantry and educational workshops, like financial literacy and meal planning.

By the numbers

Over 1 million pounds of food and 900,000 meals distributed through the Buff Pantry and mobile food pantries

Over 24,000 on-campus meals provided to students through the Swipe It Forward program

$360,469 distributed in financial assistance for food, housing and other emergencies to support 215 students

1,232 students reached through nutrition, housing, finance and wellness educational programs

132 students assisted in applying for SNAP benefits since fall 2023

Unless otherwise noted, the data reflects the Basic Needs Center’s impact since opening in the fall of 2022.

Promoting student success

The role of the Basic Needs Center goes beyond the numbers. Offering resources on campus reduces barriers that prevent students from seeking help, such as knowing community resources or needing transportation to reach them. Bringing resources to students is crucial in creating an environment where students feel valued and connected.

Likewise, a recent study of ̽��Ƶ students showed that food insecurity can negatively impact academic performance. By giving access to food and housing resources, the center aims to reduce the negative impact, allowing students to focus more fully on their education.

“The Basic Needs Center creates a community of care where everyone can thrive,” said Hannah Wilks, interim assistant dean of students. “We aim to connect students to the resources they need to continue their education and succeed at ̽��Ƶ.”

The impact of giving

Every contribution to the Basic Needs Center helps sustain a valuable program that improves students’ lives. Grace and Ray Michael, ̽��Ƶ parents and donors, became aware of the center’s importance when their student attended the university.

“We believe that students simply cannot reach their full academic potential if they are concerned with food insecurity,” Grace Michael said. “Over the past several years, we have witnessed the compassionate focus of the Buff Pantry and the Basic Needs Center on alleviating the immediate food and housing insecurity of students. We will continue to support the Basic Needs Center because we wholeheartedly believe in its mission and commitment to fostering success through stability and access to essential resources.”

The Jane Bosart Foundation also contributes generously to the Basic Needs Center, guided by shared values and a lasting connection to the university.

“The emergency fund at the Basic Needs Center directly aligns with our educational focuses as a foundation,” said Wallis Richardson Kinney (MCDBio’16), president of the foundation. “As an alum of ̽��Ƶ, it is my honor to support current students. Students attending the university should not have their education altered or paused because of life’s emergencies. I hope the support we give to students helps them stay enrolled and finish their educational path.”

Philanthropic investment in the Basic Needs Center affirms a simple truth: Every student deserves the chance to succeed without the burden of basic needs insecurity. With continued generosity, the center can build a stronger ̽��Ƶ community.

Whether through volunteering, donating goods or making a financial contribution, each effort directly impacts students’ lives and demonstrates a dedication to their well-being. Supporting the Basic Needs Center ensures it continues programming and meets students’ growing needs.

Give now

*Name changed to protect student privacy.

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