IU Student Government will donate $100,000 to on-campus food pantry Crimson Cupboard and students financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Thursday press release from IUSG.
The IUSG Student Body Congress passed a resolution for emergency funds after IUSG President Isabel Mishkin and Vice President Matt Stein approached Congress last week, according to the release. Students suffering from challenges of unemployment, reduced income or lack of transportation can submit an application for funds to help cover essential expenses in the coming months. Money will come partly from the IUSG Special Projects Funds.
“We want all students to be able to succeed academically, and they can’t do that when they’re worried about paying the bills,” Mishkin said in the release.
Expenses might include but are not limited to rent, food and transportation, according to the release. The Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Student Financial Assistance will review students’ applications. Applications will start to be reviewed Monday, according to the application website. Priority will be given to those students who are in the most need, according to the release.
IUSG will also donate money to Crimson Cupboard to give students in need access to free food. The food pantry will operate through the end of the semester. Students can pick up prepackaged bags of food on Mondays and Fridays between 2-4 p.m., according to the Crimson Cupboard website.
IUSG Student Body Congress Speaker Andrew Ireland said in the release that IUSG is committed to helping students through this challenging time.
“This is a small step in giving students immediate assistance for accessing care, getting home safely and ensuring their academic success,” he said in the release.
Stein said IUSG recognizes the uncertainty, but he thinks the IU community will be resilient.
“Hoosier ingenuity will continue to bring us together in overcoming these extraordinary challenges,” he said in the release.
