TMA Towson University Basic Needs Hub

The Basic Needs Hub at Towson University (2000+ sq. ft.) will expand the scope of services for low-income students and families from our current FoodShare Pantry to a wraparound support and capacity-building center covering several functional areas: clothing closet, financial literacy, FoodShare pantry, medical and prescription drug enrollment assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment and education.¿¿ ¿ The Basic Needs Hub programming will be organized in partnership with the Dean of Students Office to increase consciousness of the impact of poverty on college students and foster the capacity to engage in individual and collective anti-poverty work. Key highlights include:¿¿ A FoodShare Pantry which serves the campus community with perishable and non-perishable foods, and hygiene items, The Tiger Threads clothing closet which offers clothing items to the campus community, SNAP benefit application assistance, Medical and prescription drug application assistance, Childcare and student parent support and resources, Outreach and education around financial literacy, nutrition, and other basic needs support, Education for the campus community around civic agency and volunteerism, Destigmatization for campus use of resources to support basic needs, Annual assessments of basic needs insecurity on campus, Convening of the Hunger Free Campus Task Force