Get To Know Our Staff: Cheyla!

Name: Cheyla Moranchel

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

HSRC Job Title: Textbook Lending Program Coordinator

Major/minor: Public Health and Human Development & Family Sciences, minor Business

Career Aspirations: Eventually I want to work in a Hospital managerial setting to improve patient experience.

Why did you want to work at the HSRC? I was inspired by HSRC’s mission and the impact the programs had on students as well as the community.

What will you be working on? This year I will focusing taking non-used textbooks out of the library and building relationships with professors to create more constant communication per year or per term.

What do you like to do in your free time? Hiking, running, playing catch with my dog, dancing, and reading!

What’s your favorite yummy and cheap meal that you like to make? Salad

Do you have any tips for students on how to save money? Get involved and attend events that provide free food. HSRC has many great resources so be sure to check out the resources offered.

What are you favorite things to do in Corvallis? In Corvallis specifically, I like biking/running/walking to the covered bridge.

Where is your favorite spot to relax on campus? Asian & Pacific Cultural Center

What is your favorite TV show and why? Although I do not like cupcakes, I love watching Cupcake Wars. Why? Umm… I think it’s because of the competition and cool designs and events.

September 27, 2018October 22, 2018

Get To Know Our Staff: Karen

Name: Karen

Pronouns: She/Her

HSRC Job Title: Events and Programming Coordinator

Major/minor: Merchandising Management, minor in Business Entrepreneurship

Career Aspirations: I hope to work for a corporation where I can help with the planning or the sourcing of products. My dream job would be to work for Nike, Columbia, or Adidas since we are very fortunate to have their headquarters here in Portland.

Why did you want to work at the HSRC? I wanted to work at the HSRC to not only come to work and get paid but to help make a difference in someone’s life. It’s really fulfilling to personally see all the hard work and who you’re impacting.

What will you be working on? I will be training our new Events and Programming Coordinator Mimi so she has the tools to successfully plan future events once i’m gone. I’ll also be working with Mimi on ideas for new events that she can potentially plan in the future, or new ideas for annual events that have been done.

What do you like to do in your free time? In my free time I like to listen to music, spend time with friends and family, and when I have a lot of time in my hands I will work on Adobe Illustrator.

What’s your favorite yummy and cheap meal that you like to make? My favorite yummy and cheap meal that I make would have to be quesadillas.

Do you have any tips for students on how to save money? Use the resources available to you! Use the HSRC resources, get roommates and share a room (cheaper rent). Attend events on campus and get free food!

What are you favorite things to do in Corvallis? Go out and hangout with friends! If i’m not busy then i’ll go to some home games for baseball, and football.

Where is your favorite spot to relax on campus? My favorite spot to relax on campus would probably be at the SEC because it’s usually pretty well lit and it’s usually pretty quiet.

What is your favorite TV show and why? I’m going to be really basic and say Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

September 25, 2018

I Used SNAP Benefits in College and I’m Proud of It

Jenesis sits at a table outside with a laptop and a mug in front of her I Used SNAP Benefits in College and I’m Proud of It

By Jenesis Long, MAAPS Academic Counselor, Oregon State University

Being an OSU Honors college student from a low-income family, with a FAFSA EFC of $0, came with a unique set of challenges. Even with earning high grades that helped me get scholarships, working two work-study jobs, and going to every free event where food was provided that I could – I still needed more help to ensure my basic needs were met.

I had heard of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits available but had no idea if I would qualify or how to complete the application, so I postponed really looking into it out of fear. I even sacrificed eating regularly and didn’t always buy required textbooks to afford food and avoid accessing this resource.

The idea of needing SNAP (which used to be called Food Stamps) was just really hard for me to come to grips with. I spent hours trying to convince myself I didn’t really need it, that I’d be okay. I remember my roommate offering me food and asking if I’d go out with her to dinner and even offering to pay for my meals so we could hangout (food was a huge source of community!). I finally recognized that it was time to stop letting my pride get in my way and learn how to apply for SNAP benefits and accept that I really did need this service. So, I applied online and hoped for the best.

I was in my bedroom when the phone rang for the follow-up call to my application for SNAP benefits, and my heart was racing. I had no idea what to say (or not say). I didn’t know what they were looking for or what the rules were for eligibility. I was working on campus, so did that mean I wouldn’t qualify for the program? I earned scholarships that helped with my tuition, did that mean I “made too much” for help? I was just hoping that my situation would be “good enough” for their program.

Looking back, I wish I had accepted support more readily. I was so nervous for that call and had no clarity on what to expect. Knowing now that there are resources for OSU students that are seeking SNAP benefits makes me so happy!

If I had been more open to support back then, I definitely would have reached out to learn more about what the process would be like so it didn’t take up so much mental energy to prepare for. After going through what ended up being a pretty brief interview, I was granted the full amount of food benefits possible, I was SHOCKED! It would have taken me an extra 25-30 hours a month of work to earn those same dollars for food. SNAP benefits helped me to regularly have food at home, and provided me with a sense of stability that I couldn’t have achieved on my own while balancing going to lectures and labs, doing homework, working, sleeping, exercising, preparing for my career through internships, and trying to spend time with my friends and family.

(attending an OSU Football game with my roommate and our friends)

I used to be too fearful to use the HSRC resources. I never even went in to see the space or meet the people who worked there until I had been at OSU for two full years. When I did finally go in, I met welcoming and friendly people. I learned about all the resources available to students like the textbook lending program, the food pantry, and comfortable, safe spaces to spend time and meet new friends. I decided right then and there that I was a forever advocate and supporter of the HSRC.

Jenesis in graduation garb with her friend Alexsandra, also in graduation garb

(celebrating earning my bachelor’s degree at graduation with my friend, Alexsandra Cortes, CAMP – academic counselor)

After graduating from OSU with my honors bachelor’s degree in psychology, I went on to earn my masters of education in college student services administration and now serve as an academic counselor for a program that supports first-generation and low-income students, just like I was. I no longer need the support of SNAP, but am so thankful that I utilized that program when I needed it because it is one of the many support systems I needed to get me to where I am today.

Jenesis with a staff mentor on campus

(celebrating earning my master’s degree with my mentor, Kim McAloney, EOP – Academic Counselor/Academic Engagement Coordinator)

Now as an academic counselor, I tell all of my fellow academic counselors and advisors about the resources available at the HSRC and encourage them to make referrals to their students. As part of the training our staff of academic counselors did, we went and visited the new HSRC space in Champinefu Lodge and we all were delightfully greeted by a home-y, comfortable, welcoming space.

If you or someone you love is an OSU student with questions about how the HSRC can help you, what SNAP benefits are and if you qualify, or want to connect with other people who might be able to understand your situation and support you, I encourage you to contact the HSRC.

Human Services Resource Center

Champinefu Lodge
1030 SW Madison Ave.
Corvallis, OR 97333
Send Email
Phone: (541) 737-3747

Email:

hsrc@oregonstate.edu
hsrc.foodpantry@oregonstate.edu (for anything related to the food pantry – Please see the Food Pantry page for pantry hours, etc. )

September 24, 2018April 21, 2020

Get to Know out Staff: Erica

Name: Erica

Pronouns: she/her/hers

HSRC Job Title: Food Security Programs, Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major/minor: College Student Services Administration Master’s Program

Career Aspirations: I hope to work as an academic advisor or study abroad advisor when I finish my program because I love building relationships and working one-on-one with students. I aspire to be in a position where I can support students through their academic and personal struggles while helping them to recognize their own strengths and resiliency.

Why did you want to work at the HSRC?: The HSRC is an amazing community. I love working with a team of people who are passionate about helping students meet their basic needs so they can thrive. Working here has given me the opportunity to develop a more holistic and deeper understanding of what is means to support students.

What will you be working on? I will be working together with the HSRC’s student staff to oversee and develop our food pantry, SNAP outreach and other food security programs. I am also excited to help develop and facilitate events centered around classism and class inequality.

What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy taking time to get to know people and spend quality time with friends. Live music and nature bring me a ton of joy. I also love to watch cartoons and eat pizza.

What’s your favorite yummy and cheap meal that you like to make?: Since cheese is my favorite food, mac & cheese is my go-to yummy and cheap meal. I like to add spices, brocoli, muchrooms and chicken to give my mac & cheese an extra kick.

Do you have any tips for students on how to save money? Meal prepping is one way that I save money. I find that purchasing groceries at Winco and preparing my meals for the week ahead saves me money, and helps me to eat healthier. As a busy grad student it’s a challenge to find time to cook and save money by not eating out frequently.

What are you favorite things to do in Corvallis? Interzone is my favorite local spot to hang out and drink coffee. I also enjoy walking through Avery Park’s rose garden and Bald Hill.

Where is your favorite spot to relax on campus? I really like the Graduate Resource Center because it has a massage chair and is usually a pretty quite place to study with free printing.

What is your favorite tv show? I love Bob’s Burgers! All the characters are authentic and hilarious.

September 24, 2018October 22, 2018

Get To Know Our Staff: Breonna

Name: Breonna

Pronouns: She/Her

HSRC Job Title: Volunteer Food Pantry Liaison

Major/minor: Human Rights and Government with a minor in Social Justice

Career Aspirations: I hope to help those who don’t always have the power to help themselves on a personal and/or bureaucratic level. I’m not sure what that exactly looks like yet, but I want to help people.

Why did you want to work at the HSRC? I wanted to work at the HSRC to get more involved with the Oregon State community as well as translate my major into a career. I believe people fall into unfortunate circumstances often times at no fault of their own and I feel obligated to help, however possible.

What will you be working on? I’ll be working on recruiting volunteers to help at our food pantries. I hope to inspire volunteers to return and see the difference they’re making while working hands-on in their community. I’ll also be working with organizations to host various food drives throughout the year.

What do you like to do in your free time? I don’t come across free time often but when I do I like to have board game nights with friends. It’s nostalgic playing childhood games and a casual way to hang out with friends without spending money! I also love plants. I like to visit Susan’s Garden and Coffee Shop.

What’s your favorite yummy and cheap meal that you like to make? I love cottage cheese stuffed tomatoes. Scoop out the insides of a tomato into a bowl, fry some veggies (I like to do mushrooms, onions and sometimes bell peppers) combine all of that with the cottage cheese, stuff the tomato and then finish it off with a 10 minute broil in the oven. Ahhh-mazing.

Do you have any tips for students on how to save money? I have a money jar that I put spare change or dollars in. If I have a few dollar bills, I just toss it into the jar. It has really helped me when I’ve been desperate for money.

What are your favorite things to do in Corvallis? My favorite thing to do in Corvallis is going to Avery Park when the weather is nice. You can swim in the river, hammock at the park or walk through the rose garden.

Where is your favorite spot to relax on campus? The College of Liberal Arts has to have one of my favorite lounges. I like the quiet atmosphere and the location.

What is your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is Moulin Rouge, I love Baz Luhrmann movies. The singing and hopeless romance get me in my feels. It’s also just a very different plot than most musical love stories.

September 4, 2018September 25, 2018

Faculty and Staff: Share your SNAP Story

Beavers know how to work hard – how to get out there and dig in to accomplish big things.

But a growling stomach is distracting and bound to slow down even the best students.

So many OSU students struggle to pay tuition each term – and sometimes having enough money for groceries is a stretch on a student’s budget and a major stressor.

Food insecurity and struggling to make ends meet while in college – these things aren’t new. Many faculty and staff on campus today relied on food pantries or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (colloquially known as food stamps) to get through their years spent on campus.

Even though so many people rely on SNAP and similar programs, stigma and shame can really prevent today’s students from seeking help.

Did SNAP help you? Share your SNAP Story.

Learning that the faculty and staff they respect and admire needed SNAP to get through college can really help students see that they’re not alone, that college is hard for many people – and that it’s ok to ask for help.

Sharing your SNAP story is easy – you can email us to get started or, if you’re feeling inspired and want to jump right in, write a few paragraphs sharing your experience, how SNAP (and perhaps other programs) helped you, and related “things I wish I’d known then.” Keep the tone casual and conversational. If you have any photos of yourself from that era, we’d love to include them too. Send us your SNAP story (email HSRC@oregonstate.edu) and we’ll help you share your story both on the HSRC blog, but also help get it out to students who really need to read it. We’ll do some minor edits for clarity and add some text about how students can get support with a SNAP application, but mostly we’ll leave your words as you wrote them. After we post your story, we’d love to work with you to help share your SNAP story with HSRC students – and those you may have worked with too.

SNAP stigma is real and we don’t think it’ll dissolve quickly- so we’ll be looking for SNAP stories for years to come. Graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni – if you’ve got a SNAP story, it can really make a difference to students to read.