Emergency Relief Fund helps Stark students overcome financial challenges and continue their education.
For many students at ’s Stark Campus, the road to a college degree is filled with challenges beyond the classroom. Rent is due, bills are piling up and jobs can be hard to come by.
One student shared, “I’ve started a new job making dramatically less. Now, I’m struggling to pay bills.” Another student is battling homelessness, sleeping in their car and worrying about basic needs — like food and gas. “I feel completely isolated and stressed. This funding could help me find stable housing and focus on school again.”
These are just a few of the many reasons why students apply for support from the Emergency Relief Fund, which was created to help them stay in school when life throws unexpected hardships their way. Whether it’s the threat of foreclosure, the loss of a job or rising medical expenses, students in crisis turn to this fund for the financial help they so desperately need.
Students facing financial struggles
Some students, like one nursing major, are juggling school and personal responsibilities but find it difficult to make ends meet. “Sometimes, I use the food pantry just to eat something. It’s hard to manage without financial support. Please help me,” the student shared.
Another student is facing the possibility of homelessness because they are behind on the mortgage payments. “We might lose the house. I can’t focus on my studies with this constant worry,” they said. They also fear their gas and electricity may soon be cut off, which only adds to the burden.
Transportation problems are common. One student needs their car to get to school and work, but it’s breaking down, and they don’t feel safe driving it. They said, “I don’t know how long it will last. I just want to feel safe when I’m on the road, but repairs are beyond my budget.”
For others, the pressure of rising medical bills is overwhelming. A student with type 1 diabetes is struggling to pay for both medical care and tuition. “Balancing my health and my education has always been difficult, but now the cost of managing my diabetes is too much. I need help to stay in school and finish my degree,” they explained.
The role of the Emergency Relief Fund
The Emergency Relief Fund at Stark was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to address exactly these kinds of crises. It provides immediate financial help to students facing sudden emergencies that threaten their ability to stay enrolled. Over the years, students have turned to the fund after battling cancer, surviving domestic violence, and even losing their homes in fires.
One student, after a house fire destroyed all their possessions, received aid from the fund that allowed them to replace what was lost and continue their studies. Another balanced care for a child born with birth defects while managing the challenges of school, all with the help of this fund.
The fund aims to help students stay on track to complete their degrees, even when personal emergencies arise. Without this kind of support, many would be forced to drop out of school to deal with these life-altering events.
How donors can help
This Giving Tuesday, donors have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of students who are struggling. By contributing to the Emergency Relief Fund, they can help students overcome their financial challenges and continue their education.
For many students, this support is more than just a financial boost — it’s a lifeline. The money they receive can help them pay for essentials like housing, food, transportation, medical care and school supplies. It allows them to focus on their education instead of worrying about where they’ll sleep or how they’ll afford their next meal.
In the words of one student who recently applied for aid, “This funding will relieve so much stress and allow me to stay focused on my studies. I just want to build a good future for myself, but it’s hard when bills are taking over every thought in my head.”
The Emergency Relief Fund ensures that students who are facing difficult situations don’t have to choose between their education and their well-being. By helping students cover emergency expenses, the fund ensures that financial hardship doesn’t derail their dreams of earning a college degree.
Whether it’s a student struggling to find stable housing, a nursing major going hungry or a mother on the brink of foreclosure, the fund steps in to provide the relief they need.
This financial assistance allows students to push forward, knowing that help is available when the unthinkable happens. It’s a testament to the power of community — and the difference that donors can make when they care enough to extend a helping hand.
Lend a helping hand this Giving Tuesday by donating to the . And thanks to premier sponsors, North Canton Medical Foundation, Tracy and Randall Stevens and Enbridge Gas Ohio, all gifts to the Emergency Relief Fund will be matched up to $10,000.
Contact: Beth Fuciu, Director, Philanthropy, at Stark
330-244-3225, bfuciu@kent.edu