First-ever Basic Needs Resource Fair a success with community
Photos and story by James Hill
On May 13, Portland Community College hosted its first Basic Needs Resource Fair at the Student Union at the Cascade Campus, celebrating the reopening of the building for students and the community. The event attracted 180 people and was held in conjunction with the Free Food Market, which served 172 households and 529 individuals.
Students connected with a variety of resources from nine PCC programs and 24 community partners. They received basic needs care kits containing informational resources, hygiene supplies, and food. The fair featured translated materials and bilingual representatives to ensure accessibility for attendees.
“The basic needs, sustainability and leadership team is really proud of the event,” said Tammy Dowd Shearer, PCC basic needs coordinator. “This was our very first resource fair, and we know many students and community members benefited from the information and resources they received.”
PCC incentivized student participation with raffles and giveaways. The fair, utilizing both indoor and outdoor spaces, drew a large number of attendees thanks to joint marketing efforts and outreach to community and campus partners over the two months leading up to the event.
“We are grateful to our campus and community partners and we look forward to hosting future events on the other PCC campuses in the future,” Dowd Shearer added.
For more on basic needs resources at PCC, visit the Student Life webpage.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »