Month: June 2018

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Get To Know Our Staff: Angel

Angel; Graduate Research Assistant

Pronouns: He/Him/His or My name

Major: College Student Services Administration

Career Aspirations

I want to work at a college/university once I graduate with my Master’s. Cultural Centers, Equity & Inclusion Offices and even departments like the HSRC all brought me to this career path, working with students is something I really like doing and being able to do so at in Higher Ed really called to me.

Why did you want to work at the HSRC?

I wanted to work at the HSRC since the first time I heard about the cool resources it has, and knowing that I use them myself, I also wanted to understand the resources I was using better.

What will you be working on?

I will be working with the data that is gathered through the Food Assistance Application to provide information to different departments and campus partners about the work that we are doing here at the HSRC to serve students. In doing this, I hope to show stakeholders about the work that we do here and how much of it impacts students like me who use the services the HSRC provides.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Believe it or not, Pokémon hunting is making its comeback and so that’s what I have found myself doing a lot in my spare time. In addition to that, I really enjoy going to movies and doing some more reading!

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

Angel hair pasta with chicken breast is something that always has a special place in my heart. It goes back to my mom making it for me on cold days or whenever I was sick, so it has a strong connection to home for me.

What are your favorite things to do in Corvallis?

Spending time eating with friends is something I love to do, especially at good restaurants. You never know how intimate a conversation can get with food, it brings out the best in us.

If you had one wish or chance to use a magic wand, what would you do?

Rid the world of its imaginary borders 🙂

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Differences between ‘use by’ ‘best by’ and ‘sell by’ dates

Have you ever found something in the back of your pantry and seen that the best by date was just one week ago and you’re not exactly sure if you should still eat it? Well here are definitions by the USDA as to what those confusing ‘use by,’ ‘sell by,’ and ‘best buy’ dates mean and hopefully this will help you the next time you find yourself confused as to whether you should toss something out or still safely consume it.

  • Best if used by/before: not a purchase or safety date. Indicates when the product will be at best quality and taste. You can still safely eat the product once this date passes.
  • Sell by: Not a safety date. This just tells the store how long to display the product for inventory management.
  • Use by: Not a safety date. (unless its baby formula then it is a safety date) This states the last day that the product will be at best quality and taste.

It is up to you, the consumer, if you want to eat the product once it is past the best by or use by date, but  just know that it could still taste perfectly normal once the date passes. And it is safe to eat also since these are not safety dates (unless you see mold, or it has a bad odor).

If you want to read further information about the process and requirements of food dates, take a look at the USDA website that is linked right below!

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating

 

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Can Food Insecurity Impact Your Health?

by Linh Ho, HSRC Intern

For low-income individuals and households, health issues and food insecurity are things that tend to go hand in hand. Food insecurity can be generally defined as “the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources” (Healthy People 2020). If you’re skipping meals regularly, or eating less than you might normally eat because there’s not enough money or not enough food in the house, it’s very possible that you fall into the category of being food insecure. Food insecurity comes with a potential for many health problems, and has been strongly correlated with negative health outcomes for both adults and children alike.

When people aren’t access fresh and nutritious food, their quality of life and health can take a serious turn for the worst. Unfortunately, fresh and nutritious foods can be much more expensive than foods that we often consider to be unhealthy, like junk food or fast/convenient foods. Food insecure individuals also tend to have to face the dilemma of having to decide what their income will be going towards each month. For many people, it becomes a competition between food and housing costs, food and school costs, food and medical costs — the list goes on (Feeding America).

So, what usually happens is that food insecure people will go with the cheaper, less nutritious food option because it means they will be able to pay for their other costs of living. However, although cheaper, junk and fast foods when consumed too regularly can lead to chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Or, the opposite might occur and people will end up spending most if not all of their money to feed themselves and their families, especially if they have children. In that case, then they will likely forgo other important but not “urgent” medical expenses, such as doctor’s appointments, health insurance, and even prescription medication. Either way, having to choose between one or the other may have pretty negative consequences for physical health.

In addition, this chronic stress and worry over whether or not you will be able to afford food, housing, school, or other basic life needs takes a toll a person’s mental health as well. Research conducted by Dr. Andrew D. Jones at the University of Michigan found a causal association between food insecurity status and poor mental health (Science Daily). This is likely because being food insecure can cause feelings of stress, alienation, shame, and guilt often associated with anxiety and depression. Having to find and use alternative methods of obtaining food can also come with social stigma that can create feelings of inadequacy or embarrassment.

All in all, food insecurity and health can because of a vicious circle of not so great consequences. The thing is, your health absolutely does not have to suffer, just because you’re in a tight spot with money. There are so many choices, especially as a student here at OSU.

If you’re struggling with affording food, consider one of the following options:

  • Stop by Avery Lodge for one of our Shopping Style Food Pantry events for canned and dry goods, produce, and even butter and eggs!
  • Come to the HSRC during business hours (and non-Food Pantry event days) for an emergency food box and we’ll try to meet your needs.
  • Consider applying for SNAP benefits to help pay for groceries each month.
  • Stop by the HSRC if you have questions or to see how we might be able to help you further!
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HOW TO SAVE MONEY!

Do you need help on ways that you can save your money? Well my name’s Karen, a fourth year student majoring in Merchandising Management and I’m going to tell you some of the things I’ve done to save as much money as I can!

1. FREE FOOD: First of all when people say that they take advantage of the free food; let me tell you, we aren’t joking!

  • Seriously tho, take advantage and go to all and any events that provide free food.
  • Even if you may feel embarrassed, just go because chances are that most of the people attending are just going because of the free food (who doesn’t want to save money on a meal and or dont have the time to cook their own meal.)
  • This applies to you especially when you’re not living on campus anymore and you’re on your own… It’s a struggle trying to find/make time to prepare a meal
  • How I’ve found about free food on campus;
    • List serves that i’m on from either my particular college I’m in, clubs I’m a member of, special program I’m in (CAMP, TRIO, EOP), departments on campus (DCE, SSI, SLI), and the cultural centers
    • Also following different OSU pages in social media that will post events (facebook and twitter)
      • Twitter= @EatFreeOSU

2. GROCERY SHOPPING: I’m not picky at all on where to go grocery shopping, and if you aren’t either and want to save money → Go grocery shopping at Winco!

  • But I mean if you feel the need to go buy your groceries at Trader Joes then by all means you do you, but if you’re trying to save money probably not your best option…

3. SNAP: I get food stamps in order to have enough money to pay my bills and not be stressing on money for groceries.

  • If you’re a full time student and get work study through FAFSA you should be eligible for SNAP → Apply (it doesn’t hurt to try), extra money for food is always good!

4. Textbooks: In case you don’t already know, textbooks are expensive especially buying them from the OSU Bookstore!

  • Textbook lending →  I take advantage of the textbook lending program at the HSRC; where students are able to borrow books for the whole term at no cost! You can check if the HSRC has the books you need either online at: osulibrary.oregonstate.edu or by going into the office
  • Scanning chapters → If you search on osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/   and the book is at the library I go and checkout the library for the 3 hours and scan the important chapters that are needed for the class (since we don’t go over the whole book).
  • Renting → If I can’t find the book at either the textbook lending program or at the library then i will search and see if there’s a possibility for me to rent my book (which is cheaper than buying the book). You should search and try and find the place where it’s the cheapest to rent the book(s). Places where i have rented my book from: Amazon, Chegg, osu bookstore

5. Classes: If you’re able to stay in Corvallis the whole year then summer classes are a way to go!

  • Usually summer classes will be cheaper over the summer than during the rest of the school year, so if you can I would try and go with that option!
  • Also if you like learning at a fast pace than you can register for classes that are only a couple weeks (which you could potentially take the same or more classes for cheaper over the summer).

6. Driving: I personally don’t drive my car around much.

  • I take the public bus to campus, which is also very convenient if you have a job on campus (you don’t have to pay for a parking pass -which is expensive, and you save money on gas).
  • You can also ride a bike if you’re not in walking distance of campus, and prefer not to take the bus.

7. Living: rooming with multiple people can always help you save money!

  • If you are cool with sharing a room, I would highly encourage you to do so (I have shared a room with my best friend for 3 years now). This has helped cut our rent expense by half!

 

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The HSRC Budget: How It All Works

The Human Services Resource Center is a mostly funded through a small percentage of overall OSU student fees, but also relies on sustainable gifts through our OSU foundation account to fund certain components of our programs, namely the HSRC Food Pantry. Continue reading to learn more about the HSRC budget, programs, and folks involved in making decisions about how we spend our money.

Overview of HSRC Students & Programs

The Human Services Resource Center at Oregon State University is known around campus for our Textbook Lending Program, our @eatfreeOSU twitter campaign, and helping students who may be in housing crisis. Additionally, we provide food assistance through the HSRC Food Pantry, the Food Assistance Funds Program, SNAP enrollment assistance, and brand new cooking classes!

Our HSRC students may be one or more of the following:

– Pell-eligible
– First generation
– Former Foster Youth
– TRiO or EOP participants
– Undocumented, DACA or under-resourced international students
– Homeless, houseless, or otherwise experiencing housing insecurity
– Experiencing situational poverty
– Prior recipients of Free/Reduced Lunch Program or other social safety net programs

For more information about the HSRC history, mission, and vision, check out About HSRC on our website.

Student Fee Funded Unit

The HSRC is mostly funded through OSU student fees. Each term students enrolled at the Corvallis campus, pay a set amount of student fees – and the HSRC is funded by a small percentage of this overall total. E-campus, non-enrolled students, and Cascades campus students do not pay into the same student fees as Corvallis-campus students do. The student fees provided to the HSRC helps pay for building expenses, staffing needs, and program supplies. As a student-fee funded unit, the HSRC is required to annually submit a proposed budget to the Student Fee Committee and to request a fee level needed to support our program functions.

For more information about the recent Student Fee Committee budget process, check out HSRC in the Media on our blog: http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/hsrc/hsrc-media-coverage/

Budgeting Funds

The HSRC budget in 2018-19 fiscal year is expected to be $834,000. Of those funds, approximately $230,000 will be distributed back to OSU students as our Mealbux award within the Food Assistance Program.

Student Aid Programs

HSRC student aid includes:

– Food Assistance Funds Program
    ($231,000 annually before staffing costs)

– Textbook Lending Program
    ($20,000 annually before staffing costs)

– Emergency Housing 
    ($10,000-$30,000 annually before staffing costs)

– Avery Facilities
(roughly $28,000 in occupancy fees, utilities and other related costs)

– HSRC Food Pantry
(currently $12,000 or so annually before staffing costs)

– Alternative Break Travel Grant & other student travel support
   ($5,000 annually before staffing costs)

Staffing

In order to run these various student aid programs, another large portion of budget goes towards staffing and professional development funds.

The HSRC staff includes the following positions:

3 Full Time Employees (FTE)
2 graduate assistants
10 undergraduate staff

For more information about the HSRC staff positions, check out Join Our Team on the HSRC website.

Program Supplies

The final portion of the student-fees funded budget goes towards program expenses like promotion, printing costs, room rentals, equipment and other basics of running the program.

Food Share Costs

While we have recently received an increase to our student-fee funded budget, these funds cannot be used for food share costs (just about 2% of overall HSRC budget) associated with food acquired through the Linn Benton Food Share to stock the HSRC Food Pantry. We depend on sustainable gifts received through the OSU Foundation to fund this vital resource for students and community. Currently, we are in need of sustainable gifts to our OSU Foundation account to help meet our funding goal and continue to maintain this important resource.

Budget Authority & HSRC Advisory Board

The Assistant Director of the HSRC is the budget authority for the HSRC, as delegated by the Office of the Provost. The budget authority reviews and makes purchasing decisions centered in HSRC values and OSU’s mission. All purchases are also made in alignment with spending expectations outlined on the AABC website.

Additionally, the HSRC has an advisory board, a requirement for all OSU student-fee funded units. This advisory board is comprised of OSU students, and both campus and community partners invested in the success of OSU students. Members of the HSRC advisory board help review and make recommendations related to the annual HSRC budget. The advisory board also serves as a sounding board for the HSRC Leadership Team and helps to review HSRC programs and services, providing recommendations to the HSRC that help support and enhance the success of OSU students.

Limitations & Future Implications

The challenge of being so substantially student-fee-funded means that in order for growth and expansion to occur students (including those we are trying to help) need to pay more. Increased costs, even without growth, like staff salary raises, utility cost increases and other variables are experienced by us and other student fee funded units – putting pressure on everyone in our division to work mindfully to keep growth conservative so fee increases can be minimal. We hope that in the future we’ll have support from foundations, state programs or donors who can help us meet student needs without needing to ask for more from students.