The Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation will hold a Week of Giving fundraiser beginning Tuesday, Feb. 9, to support the College-Community-Connection (C3) program, which helps MVCC fulfill its mission of providing an accessible college education by addressing barriers that keep students from achieving academic goals through a variety of resources, including an on-campus food pantry and referrals to community services.

Research by the HOPE Center shows that one in five U.S. community college students is homeless and nearly 50% of community college students are food insecure. More than 76% of the students who utilize C3’s services are from Oneida County.

Pell-eligible students, those whose expected family contribution to their education is less than $5,577 per year, make up more than 72% of MVCC’s student population. The C3 program was developed in 2016 to provide these students with an on-campus support center offering timely, effective solutions to non-academic issues that could prevent them from completing their degree. The world-wide pandemic that led to most students learning online and off-campus has increased the technological needs of students. In the Spring and Fall 2020 semesters, the C3 program assisted in laptop loans, Wi-Fi Hotspots, and other home-based internet service needs. C3 also assisted with rental payments for textbooks and lab kits, and continued to offer support with community resources such as food pantries, Department of Social Services (TA, SNAP, HEAP), and the Homeowners Association (COVID Emergency Rental Assistance).

“The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified critical barriers so many of our students were already facing,” said MVCC President Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D. “The C3 program and our partners provide those necessary and timely stabilizing supports for students so they can finish their degree and secure a job to achieve the long-term success they aspire to in order to provide for their family.”

In September 2019, the program’s goal was to serve 1,000 students and their families over a two-year time period. In the program’s last 18 months, almost 1,000 already have been served.

Donations during the MVCC Foundation’s Week of Giving will help the College continue the program’s positive impact.

To donate or for more information, visit mvccfoundation.org beginning Tuesday, Feb. 9.