Community Partnerships Show the Power in Meeting EOU Student Needs

Community Partnerships Show the Power in Meeting EOU Student Needs

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University is forging partnerships to ensure students have what they need to succeed in and out of the classroom.  Eastern Oregon University’s Benefits Navigator partnered with agencies across Eastern Oregon to connect students with essential resources like housing, food, transportation, and financial aid. 

Earlier this summer, the Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL) donated 100 hygiene kits to support EOU students. EOCIL is a cross-disability resource and advocacy center that promotes independent living and equal access for people with disabilities. EOCIL serves 13 counties in central and eastern Oregon, with offices in Ontario, Burns, La Grande, Pendleton, and The Dalles.

EOCIL has committed to providing hygiene kits monthly through the Benefits Navigator Program under the Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). The kits, which contain essential personal care items, will be available at the Multicultural Center and campus food pantries for easy student access.

EOU’s Benefits Navigator program also partnered with the La Grande Farmers Market and Community Connection of Northeast Oregon to improve food security on campus. Fresh produce from the Farmers Market has added variety and nutrition to the items in campus food pantries, which are open to all EOU community members.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of our community partners like EOCIL and the Farmers Market. These partnerships are essential to ensuring our students have the resources they need to succeed. It’s inspiring to see these collaborations grow and impact students’ daily lives,” said Pamela Fredrick-Williams, EOU Benefits Navigator.

These partnerships show the power of community in meeting student needs. EOU is committed to working with local and regional organizations to help students thrive both academically and personally.