Though there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel of the pandemic, SRC students remain in great need of financial support. In fact, the need has never been greater.
That’s a point that Spoon River College Foundation Director Colin Davis wants to make sure is known.
“Nationwide, nearly 80 percent of community college students work to support their education, and still, at SRC, nearly 90 percent of our first-time, full-time students receive financial aid,” said Davis. “Fifty percent of SRC students who responded to a survey indicated they had experienced food insecurity. That was prior to COVID-19, and the pandemic has only made things more difficult for our students.”
But there’s another point Davis wants to make sure is known – that you can be the light at the end of their tunnels.
And the opportunity is quickly approaching.
#GivingSPOONday, SRC’s version of Giving Tuesday, the worldwide day of giving that kicks off the holiday season, is Tuesday, Nov. 30.
“Giving Tuesday is the charitable organization’s response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and #GivingSPOONday offers a fun way to “snap” into the season of giving,” said Davis. “It’s a crowdfunding idea that we hope will not only bring new donors to the Foundation, but also more awareness to more people about the mission of the SRC Foundation and the many ways it supports the college, its students, its staff, and our communities.”
The SRC Foundation has set a goal of 300 separate gifts to be raised in the campaign, which ends at 11:59 p.m. Nov. 30. The campaign promotes giving online at www.src.edu/givingtuesday, but cash or check donations are gladly accepted, too.
“Any gift, whether $1 or $1,000, counts toward our goal, and donors can choose how they want the funds to be used,” Davis said. “But all gifts, no matter the size or how they are used, help break down the barriers that stand between our students and completing their educational goals at SRC. Gifts to the area of greatest need are especially appreciated, because they help the Foundation more quickly address student needs at SRC. For example, those gifts enabled us to establish the Emergency Hardship Fund and purchase laptops for SRC students when the pandemic began.”
To the SRC Foundation and to local students, this campaign matters.
“#GivingSPOONday has become vital to the SRC Foundation’s mission, and how much we’re able to help students depends on the success of this day,” said Davis. “Gifts to #GivingSPOONday have helped us provide more in scholarship funding than ever before and keep 53 students enrolled with our Emergency Hardship Fund since the pandemic began. But there are many more students who need our help, and we can do more if our friends support this campaign, including helping more students who aspire to enter the medical field and help us to put this pandemic behind us.”
The #GivingSPOONday campaign will be conducted through direct mail, peer-to-peer methods, online marketing and social media, and email. In addition, many local businesses and organizations get involved by sharing #GivingSPOONday posts on their social media pages, and Hy-Vee in Canton will be asking their customers to “round up” their purchases, with the proceeds benefitting the campaign.
“Many Spoon River College students, employees, and friends will be sharing our campaign via email and on their social media pages. If those that they share with also share, we have the potential to reach thousands of people,” said Davis. “Our goal is lofty, but reachable. Every time we’ve bet on the generosity of our communities, we’ve been rewarded. We hope that this time is no different.”
To make your gift or to learn how you can get involved, visit www.src.edu/givingtuesday, visit the Spoon River College Foundation Facebook page (www.facebook.com/spoonrivercollegefoundation), or call (309) 649-6395.