Over the years, college campuses have added a wide array of free wraparound services for enrolled students, faculty and staff, including food pantries, financial assistance for living expenses, clothing and school supplies, as well as health care services.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At San Antonio College\u2019s Student Advocacy Center, one of the most popular programs is a daily snack program that received 83,000 total visits during the 2024-25 academic year. So far this school year \u2014 starting Aug. 16 to date \u2014 the program has received more than 25,000 visits, a significant increase from the same time last year that signals more need.<\/p>\n
Visits to the center\u2019s food pantry \u2014 which has perishable and non-perishable food items as well as some baby food and toiletries \u2014 have also increased by 30% this year, when compared to the same time period last academic year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing the decrease of availability of the items that we usually get for free or for very inexpensive through the food bank because we know they\u2019re being tapped out,\u201d said Jillian Denman, director of the San Antonio College Advocacy Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The college partners with the San Antonio Food Bank, which offers free or low-cost options, but increased demand means paying higher prices for items through wholesale partners and relying on donations.<\/p>\n
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Students, staff and faculty can visit the food pantry up to two times a month and are allowed to fill two shopping bags per visit at San Antonio College\u2019s Student Advocacy Center. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n
Local organizations and businesses, such as the San Antonio Food Bank, Whataburger, and H-E-B, have partnered to provide food pantries to their wraparound services.<\/p>\n
At the University of Texas at San Antonio, demand hasn\u2019t necessarily increased, at least in food pantry visits. The pantries typically see somewhere between 3,000 to 4,000 visits per month, during peak demand in the middle of each semester \u2014 around September-October and March-April.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But UT San Antonio officials are anticipating added demands due to cuts in federal aid. The university plans to reopen a student emergency aid that offers up to $500 for student emergencies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe open it for different emergencies. We last had it open when we were accepting applications for victims from the flooding,\u201d said Melissa Hernandez, Associate Dean of Students \u2013 Wellbeing Services.<\/p>\n
Whatever your need is, college officials echoed one message: speak up as early as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk for help early. Don\u2019t wait until it\u2019s a crisis,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cThe more time that we have to help problem solve and find resources, the better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When it comes to making tuition payments, Denman said the colleges can\u2019t pay themselves, but they can provide aid to cover other expenses to lessen the load.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Students at San Antonio College can visit the Student Advocacy Center to grab one drink and one snack every day after providing their student ID number. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n
While services vary by institution, most have departments to take care of students\u2019 requests. Click on your college to find student resources at your campus:<\/p>\n
San Antonio College Advocacy Center<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Location: 1819 N. Main Ave. San Antonio, Texas 78212<\/p>\n Phone: 210-486-1111<\/p>\n Visits types: virtual, in-person, appointments available.<\/p>\n Services: Daily snacks, food pantry, emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling, case management referrals.\u00a0<\/p>\n Requirements: Be enrolled. ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Palo Alto College S.H.A.R.E Center\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Location: On campus at Rio Grande, Room 131<\/p>\n Phone: 210-486-3121<\/p>\n Visit types: in person, appointments available.\u00a0<\/p>\n Services: Grab and go lunch, food pantry, emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling, case management referrals.<\/p>\n Requirements: Be actively enrolled. ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Northwest Vista Center Student Resource and Advocacy Center\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Location: On campus at Pecan Hall 100<\/p>\n Phone: 210-486-4357<\/p>\n Visit types: in person and by appointment for services outside the grab-and-go option.\u00a0<\/p>\n Services: Grab-and-go snacks, food pantry, clothing, emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling, case management referrals.\u00a0<\/p>\n Requirements: Be actively enrolled. An ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Northeast Lakeview College Nighthawk\u2019s Nest Advocacy Center\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Location: On campus at Brazos Student Union, STCM 210<\/p>\n Phone: 210-486-5179<\/p>\n Visit types: in person, virtual and by appointment for services outside the grab-and-go option.<\/p>\n Services: Grab-and-go snacks, food pantry, clothing, emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling, case management referrals.\u00a0<\/p>\n Requirements: Be actively enrolled. An ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n St. Philip\u2019s College Safe Space<\/a><\/p>\n Location: On campus at the MLK Center for Advocacy & Student Empowerment<\/p>\n Phone: 210-486-2824<\/p>\n Visit types: in person, virtual and by appointment for services outside the grab-and-go option.<\/p>\n Services: Grab-and-go snacks, food pantry, clothing, emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling, case management referrals.\u00a0<\/p>\n Requirements: Be actively enrolled. An ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n UT San Antonio Student Advocacy Center<\/a><\/p>\n Location: Main Campus Student Union 1.02.22<\/p>\n Pantry locations: Main Campus Roadrunner Pantry at Student Union 1.04.06. Downtown Campus pantry at Durango Building 1.306.\u00a0<\/p>\n Phone: Main campus at 210-458-3287. Downtown campus at 210-458-2267.<\/p>\n Visit types: Walk-ins or by appointment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Services: Food pantry, emergency funds, medical and mental health services, behavioral intervention services.\u00a0<\/p>\n Requirements: Be actively enrolled. An ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas A&M- San Antonio The General\u2019s Store<\/a><\/p>\n Location: On campus at Patriots\u2019 Casa, room 110\u00a0<\/p>\n Phone: 210-784-1356<\/p>\n Visit Type: In-person or by appointment.<\/p>\n Services: Food pantry open to students, faculty and staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n Requirements: Open to actively enrolled students with financial income at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. An ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Our Lady of the Lake Salud Center<\/a><\/p>\n Location: On campus at the Worden School of Social Service Building, room 29<\/p>\n Contact: saludcenter@ollusa.edu<\/a><\/p>\n Visit type: In person and by appointment<\/p>\n Services: Food pantry, social work services, case management referrals, emotional support, advocacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Requirements: Be actively enrolled. An ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n University Incarnate Word Student Basic Needs initiative<\/a><\/p>\n Location: On campus at 4301 Broadway<\/p>\n Contact: Email at unified@uiwtx.edu<\/a> or call 210-832-5495.<\/p>\n Visit type: In person or by appointment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Services: Food pantry, clothing needs, financial assistance, housing assistance, health services, safety, transportation, behavioral health.<\/p>\n Requirements: Be actively enrolled, or a faculty or staff member. An ID may be required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Trinity University\u2019s Nourish Virtual Food Pantry<\/a><\/p>\n Location: Virtual<\/p>\n Contact: Email at deanofstudents@trinity.edu<\/a> or call 210-999-8843<\/p>\n Visit Type: Virtual or by appointment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Services: Virtual food pantry, short-term emergency assistance, emergency referrals to outside resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n Requirements: Be actively enrolled. An ID may be required.\u00a0<\/p>\n St. Mary\u2019s University Student Health and Wellness<\/a><\/p>\n Location: Center for Life and Directions Building and the Student Health Center at the Charles Francis Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n