Student Support Foundation

CLOCK PHOTO/JENNIFER TEPPER

There are a number of problems students find themselves running into such as getting food, or emergency financial needs for medical, travel, or textbook expenses. The Student Support Foundation (SSF) is a confidential program established in August 2005 that is available for Plymouth State University students to utilize in order to overcome these financial obstacles. 

The SSF is made up of nine board members and several more food pantry volunteers. The advisors are Linda Corriveau and Domenica Medaglia-Brown. Terri Dautcher and Samuel Wisel provide marketing assistance. It is important to note that “this organization would not be possible without Carrie Morgridge and her husband John Morgridge,” said Maria Nacopoulos, a board member of the SSF. 

The Morgridges helped to establish the SSF with the goal of teaching students about “poverty and the life skills of service and philanthropy, providing them with the funds to help keep students in school through short-term emergency assistance and long-term student support,” said Nacopoulos. With the approach of their tenth year on campus, the Morgridge Family Foundation has offered the SSF an opportunity to participate in a Dream Big Project to provide something useful and beneficial for PSU.

The SSF funds grants for students who have emergency financial need: travel (i.e. for a death), textbooks, medical, and dental. If a student finds him or herself in need of one of these grants, he or she can fill out an application on the SSF Plymouth webpage. “Members of the board will review these applications and determine the need. We can grant up to $200,” said Denisha Odell, the President of the SSF. 

The SSF food pantry is open to all students in need of food. It is located next to Blair Hall. Students are able to come and pick up food about four times a semester. Students only need their student ID and a hard-copy of the Enrollment Verification for the semester. “Being able to provide even the smallest amount of assistance to individuals in need and seeing how great of an impact it can have on their lives is so rewarding,” said Odell.

If students find themselves eager to give back to the community, like Odell and Nacopoulos, they can e-mail the volunteer coordinator at opchambers@plymouth.edu. The hours of the food pantry are based around the availability of their volunteers. With more volunteers, they hope to expand their hours and, in turn,w help a greater number of students. Students can apply to be SSF board members on the SSF Plymouth webpage as well. For those who do not have the time to give back with hours, Odell said, “Donations to the pantry are always welcome!”

The SSF food pantry is open for the following hours:

Mon., 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Tues., 1:00-4:30 p.m. 

Wed., 12:30-2:00 p.m.

Thurs., 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Fri., 1:30-3:30 p.m. 

Any further questions can be directed to Odell at dsodell@plymouth.edu.