BMCC’s Single Stop Office Now Called Advocacy and Resource Center

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Single Stop office has changed its name to the Advocacy and Resource Center. But even though the name has changed, the services, including the Panther Pantry, will all remain the same. Students in need of assistance are encouraged to reach out by email or to call (212) 220-8195 and leave a detailed message.

On Thursdays, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. the BMCC Panther Pantry is open and hot restaurant quality meals are available from 1 until 2p.m. at Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street.

In addition to the food pantry, services at BMCC’s Advocacy Resource Center office include the administration of the emergency grant fund, referrals to social services, health care, assistance with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications and housing referrals as well as general counseling around resource acquisition and resolution of issues with landlords. Referrals are also made for legal services through the Legal Aid Society.

BMCC students have been especially impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the wake of the crisis, BMCC created the COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund to support students who now find themselves facing financial struggles that were previously unforeseen.

“Our funders have been very generous and that has allowed us to extend life-sustaining funds to even more of our students facing financial emergencies,” said Advocacy Resource Center Director Deborah Harte. “The students are very appreciative.”

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Advocacy Resource Center has been able to provide several hundred BMCC students with life-sustaining emergency funds. The food pantry has also seen increased demand as many students struggle with reduced employment or other economic fallout from the pandemic.

Over the summer, BMCC established a partnership with Feed the Frontlines NYC for a pilot program that is providing restaurant-quality meals to students facing food insecurity. The meals are delivered fresh and are available to students each Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street.

“If a student has a financial emergency or is facing food insecurity, please contact us, we will do everything we can to try and address it,” said Student Life Manager Deborah Harte, Director of the Advocacy Resource Center. Students are encouraged to call and email the Advocacy Resource Center office to make an appointment to visit the office or food pantry.

But even before COVID-19, many BMCC students were often put in positions of whether or not to buy groceries, pay subway fare to get to class or pay the rent.

“When a family is living check to check, it doesn’t take a lot to tip the balance and force them into very difficult decisions, like whether to go hungry or keep a roof over their heads,” said Harte, who has said COVID has only exacerbated those challenges for many BMCC students.

As students who have benefited from the services provided by the Advocacy Resource Center office attest, the assistance is greatly appreciated.

For example, Business Administration major Luis, an undocumented full-time student who lives in Brooklyn with family and roommates recently benefited from the BMCC COVID-19 emergency fund.

Before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on New York City’s economy, Luis had been working in a busy restaurant, getting by financially and also staying busy with school.

But when the restaurant closed due to New York’s shelter-in place-order, he was let go from his job. Since Luis is undocumented, he is ineligible for federal financial aid for tuition. He also doesn’t qualify for any government assistance such as stimulus checks or enhanced unemployment benefits.

“I wasn’t able to pay my portion of the rent and I was close to being evicted,” said Luis. “This was all happening as the spring semester was coming to an end, so dealing with the uncertainty about my stability and trying to focus on school exams was stressful, to say the least.”

As the first member of his family to attend college, Luis has been doing his best to excel in his classwork. He has also received some help paying for school through scholarships and internship opportunities.

“I’ve always been an A and B student. I’m vice president of two student clubs, I volunteer for various programs and I serve as a mentor to incoming freshman students who need guidance,” said Luis. “But, now when there’s the choice between putting food on the table, paying rent and staying in school, this is not an easy journey.”