GMercyU Featured in WHYY Article on College Student Basic Needs Program

Gwynedd Mercy University and Board of Trustees member John Kepner were featured in a WHYY article on the College Student Basic Needs Program (CSBNP). The CSBNP was born out of a GMercyU Board meeting in 2017 when Kepner was reading a report that detailed the difficulties college students in Montgomery County face regarding stable housing and food.

Shocked by what he read, Kepner contacted officials at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) and both MCCC and GMercyU participated in a study to determine the obstacles their students face. At this time, GMercyU and MCCC were in the beginning stages of opening up food pantries on campus.

The results of the study showed that GMercyU and MCCC students were facing both food and housing insecurity. To combat the issue, the CSBNP was created. The consortium now consists of Manna on Main Street, Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, Family Promise Montco, Montco Anti-Hunger Network, and Your Way Home Montgomery County.

The WHYY article goes further into detail on the role of CSBNP and the impact its had on students in Montgomery County. Read more here.