Life Help: Basic Needs Resources
Minnesota State University, Mankato recognizes the challenges that college students face every day. This website includes resources that you may find helpful to navigating life.
Food Resources
Swipe out Hunger
Sodexo, Swipe Out Hunger, and Minnesota State University, Mankato are partnering to fight student food insecurity. Sodexo has provided meals to establish a Meal Swipe Bank for use by food-insecure students. Students may request swipes by using the form on the Dining Service website. Once meal swipes are added to the applicant’s Mav Card, those meals can be used by swiping in at the University Dining Center. To apply, fill out the Swipe Out Hunger Meal Request Form.
Campus Cupboard
Located in the Crossroads Campus Ministry next to campus, it is a food shelf open to all college students. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
ECHO Food Shelf
ECHO is concerned about the health and safety of their clients and volunteers. Therefore, they are taking new temporary precautionary measures due to coronavirus.
Clients will not be doing their own shopping. Instead:
1. Phone lines will be open from 9 am-4:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and Thursdays from 9 am-to 6:30 pm. Clients can call 507-345-7508 for an appointment time
3. A volunteer will call back to determine clients' dislikes, allergies, dietary restrictions, etc.
4. The cart will be ready for clients to pick up at the door at the scheduled appointment time.
ECHO Delivers Outreach Program Option: ECHO recognizes that there is a segment of the population who needs extra food for their diet but cannot access the food shelf during regular operating hours because they lack transportation. For residents in this situation, ECHO will start offering delivery of food supplies to those individuals who ask for the service. Call the client line at 507-345-7508, if you need help.
Online same-day appointments are also available for clients. New clients can also complete the application online. Please visit their website for more information.
How can I get from campus to the ECHO Food Shelf? More information can be found here.
They appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time. Please answer the phone when their volunteer calls you and show up at your scheduled appointment time to pick up your food. They will do their best to get you the food that you can use.
Maverick Food Pantry
The Maverick Food Pantry is a new Minnesota State University, Mankato initiative providing perishable and non-perishable food as well as toiletries for students that are in need.
Food for All
Food For All food program is funded by the proceeds from the Neighborhood Thrift Store. Everyone is welcome to attend with no paperwork necessary. The program is held on the second Saturday of each month at Goodrich Construction, 1700 3rd Ave. in Mankato. It begins at 9am and you are welcome to arrive at 8:30am to line up early.
During the pandemic, Food for All will continue via a drive-thru format.
Visit the website for general information; visit their Facebook page for more up-to-date information.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army continues to offer its noon meal program from 12 noon to 1 p.m. All meals are take-out only. The program is located at 700 Riverfront Drive in Mankato. General information is on its website or Facebook page.
SNAP Outreach:
Second Harvest Heartland
Provides federal food support program enrollment assistance and information about food support, screening, and application assistance. Provided by Second Harvest Heartland and the University of Minnesota Extension.
To learn if you qualify, visit their website for more information or call 844-764-5513 or 651-209-7963.
Hunger Solutions Minnesota
Hunger Solutions Minnesota works to end hunger in our state. To find out if you may be eligible for SNAP and an estimated amount of benefits, please visit their website for more information.
Health and Counseling Resources
Mental health crisis spurs new Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number - 988
It can be difficult to ask for help, particularly when in distress. It is hard to think clearly or rationally when your life seems overwhelming or hopeless. For some people, these feelings may lead to suicidal thoughts. In recognizing the growing mental health crisis, Congress recently passed the National Suicide Hotline Act designating a new three-digit number — 988 — as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number. Effective Saturday, July 16, people in distress can dial 988 rather than the previous 10-digit number. The change is modeled after the 911 emergency assistance program allowing those in crisis to seek support. Learn more and develop your safety plan.
211 Basic Needs Resource Hub
Minnesota State University, Mankato, and Minnesota State have partnered with United Way 211 to establish a statewide basic needs resource hub. The basic needs resource hub provides Minnesota State University, Mankato students access to basic needs resources and support available on campus and in the community via phone, text, or chat 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Learn more about this new resource.
Campus Counseling Center
The Counseling Center provides a range of help and services, from individual and group counseling to referrals. Services are free, comfortable, and confidential; the Counseling Center is here to help students navigate any difficulties going on personally, socially, or in school. It doesn’t have to be a crisis - no problem is too small, if it’s in the way come to the Center and explore the services we have to offer you. http://www.mnsu.edu/counseling/
Student Health Services
The Student Health Services Medical Clinic and Pharmacy remain open weekdays from 8am to 4:30pm Medical providers are available for both in-person and telehealth visits. These can be scheduled through the Patient Portal or by calling during business hours. For information about student medical care or connection to campus resources, contact Student Health Services at healthservices@mnsu.edu or 507-389-6276.
Quality and affordable health care is available to every student. An accredited on-site medical clinic with a full-service pharmacy, lab services, and health education are all part of Student Health Services. http://www.mnsu.edu/shs/
Open Door Health Center
Open Door Health Center continues to see patients. When you call for an appointment, they will screen for COVID-19 symptoms. They offer telemedicine but realize that not all of their patients have access to devices. If you need to come into the clinic, they screen for COVID-19 at the door. Open Door Health Center is a nonprofit community health center, providing quality affordable health care to everyone! https://odhc.org/
Financial Resources
Financial Aid Office
The Student Financial Aid office is committed to providing valuable information about financial aid programs and processes to ensure each student has access to the maximum available funds. The financial services specialists at the Campus Hub are available to answer questions and connect students with additional advising assistance if needed. https://mankato.mnsu.edu/university-life/campus-services/campushub/
Scholarships
Minnesota State University, Mankato is fortunate to have generous individuals who donate to scholarship funds. The purpose of the scholarships is to assist undergraduate students in meeting the cost of attendance at Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://mankato.mnsu.edu/university-life/campus-services/campushub/financial-aid/scholarships
Emergency Grant for Students
For many students, an unexpected car repair or a medical bill can mean the end of their college hopes. While typically not large expenses, they can be enough to put these students in a serious bind: stay in college or pay the bill. By quickly delivering small grants to students encountering unexpected expenses, Minnesota State University, Mankato helps more of these students stay in school and on track for degree completion. http://www.mnsu.edu/emergencygrant/
Blue Earth County Human Services / Social Services
The Human Services Department’s mission is to effectively and efficiently deliver essential services to families and individuals so they can achieve their potential through active community participation. https://www.blueearthcountymn.gov/99/Human-Services-Social-Services
Handshake
Use Handshake to look for jobs and internships, register for career events, schedule an appointment, and more! https://mavjobs.joinhandshake.com/login
Legal Services
Student Attorney
Students at Minnesota State University, Mankato have access to free legal advice. The Student Association provides a licensed practicing attorney through funding from student activity fees. Offering legal advice to individual students and researching legal issues for student body governance are the most important functions of the Student's Attorney. The Student's Attorney advises and informs students and special interest groups at Minnesota State Mankato on a part-time basis. https://www.mnsu.edu/mssa/services/student_attorney.html
Transportation Resources
Mankato Transit Services
Social distancing has been implemented on all city buses and additional efforts include daily sanitation and twice-a-week deep cleaning. View Mankato’s COVID-19 webpage for helpful information and resources about city service. https://www.mankatomn.gov/city-services-a-z/city-services-a-m/city-bus
Grocery Store Bus Routes
Discovering the various bus routes can be difficult at first. To make it easier, check out the grocery store bus route comparison for each of the Mankato grocery stores and ECHO Food Shelf from Julia Sears Residence Hall.
Donation Opportunities
Support College Students in Need
MavCares Emergency Grants
A MavCares Emergency Grant provides critical resources so students can stay in school even when their campus or other employment is not available. Your gift helps students afford housing, transportation, online learning resources, and more. With your support, we can help students facing emergencies right now. Donate to MavCares here.
Student Affairs Food Shelf Donation
Food insecurity is an issue for some of our college students and your gift to provide food for students who need this help is welcomed. Your donation will go directly to support a local food shelf that directly supports our students. On the Donation Page select More Giving Options and then Student Affairs Division. Donate to the Student Affairs Food Shelf here.
General Scholarship Fund
The need for scholarship support is greater than ever. At Minnesota State Mankato almost all scholarship support available to students comes from private support – from donors– the majority of whom are alumni. Would you make a gift to support a student this fall through the general scholarship fund? Donate to General Scholarships here.
Please direct any questions you may have to student-affairs@mnsu.edu or 507-389-2121. Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, David Jones is the contact for this website.
