肉肉传媒

KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 1, 2021

As more college students nationwide face homelessness and food insecurity, 肉肉传媒鈥檚 (CARES) has emerged as a leader, creating practical solutions to help students in need.

Now in its 10th year, KSU鈥檚 CARE Services is dedicated to helping students who are experiencing foster care, homelessness and/or food insecurity. The organization serves as the single point of access to services and resources both on and off campus for 肉肉传媒 State students.  

鈥淭he pandemic worsened homelessness and food insecurity issues for many students who lost jobs or took pay cuts,鈥� said Marcy Stidum, director of CARE Services. 鈥淎s those needs have changed for our students, we鈥檝e been successful in expanding our programs and services for the KSU community, such as adding our ASCEND program.鈥� ASCEND offers mentoring and on-campus housing options where students who experienced homelessness and/or foster care while in high school can live together at 肉肉传媒 State鈥檚 Marietta Campus. 

The organization is now reaching beyond the campus community with the launch of the CARE RoadMap, a customized program to provide training to colleges and universities to help students in need, as part of the University鈥檚 annual observance of , Nov. 1-6.

鈥淲e developed the CARE RoadMap to ensure that any academic institution can assist their special populations of students in need as they transition through college,鈥� Stidum said. 鈥淲e have seen firsthand how beneficial these initiatives are to 肉肉传媒 State students, and we are eager to expand that impact by sharing this proven model with other schools.鈥�

At the national level, KSU鈥檚 CARE Services is recognized as National Best Practice Model by the National Center for Homeless Education, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth and SchoolHouse Connection.

In the 10 years that CARE Services has been in operation, nearly 2,500 students have been provided services, including 44 students housed in temporary apartments and 111 students helped financially to prevent eviction and homelessness.

Over the past decade, they have provided nearly $300,000 in direct financial assistance, with nearly $71,000 given to 肉肉传媒 State students from July to September of this year.

Donations from individuals, foundations and corporations have added new levels of aid for emergency housing, supplies and food. 肉肉传媒 State was the first university in the country to add an emergency housing room on campus with support from the Beacon Foundation Charitable Trust. The addition and expansion of campus food pantries at both the Marietta and 肉肉传媒 campuses was made possible through the ongoing support from grocery retailer Kroger.  

Serta Simmons Bedding, one of the largest manufacturers, marketers and suppliers of mattresses in North America, will also support KSU鈥檚 CARE Services and the CARE RoadMap by providing participating institutions with mattresses and pillows for their students in need.

In addition to the CARE RoadMap and two on-campus food pantries, KSU鈥檚 CARE Services also operates three other supportive efforts:

路     helps students overcome unforeseen hardships that hinder academic progression by providing them with financial assistance. 

路     is a community of students and others who provide resources for students in a national effort to end poverty on campus.  

路     is designed to support high school students who are homeless or in youth foster care and want to succeed in college.

For more information about KSU CARE Services, visit .

鈥� Tiffany Capuano

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 肉肉传媒 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 肉肉传媒 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 肉肉传媒 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.