PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – (January 10, 2020) – The Emergency Resource Center (ERC) under Prairie View A&M University’s Health Services launched its Hilltop Reserve food pantry and clothing boutique last semester without fanfare.  The goal was to meet the emergency needs of students.

“That is what we are trying to do. We want you to be successful and matriculate,” said Attorney Tondra Moore, Ph.D., health administrator and executive director of Health Services. “And we know that sometimes students need a little bit more help to make it to that finish line.”

Based upon the numbers of PVAMU students who took advantage of the Hilltop Reserve’s free services in the Owens-Franklin Health Clinic, its first semester of service was a success.

“The Hilltop Reserve has serviced 356 students total throughout the course of the semester,” reported Meaquell Lewis, program coordinator, and licensed social worker.  “The Hilltop Reserve has received 2,750 items in donations for the Hilltop Reserve Market (Pantry) and Hilltop Reserve Boutique combined. This also includes the students serviced at the Northwest campus.”

For pantry items, the ERC has a memorandum of understanding with the Houston Food Bank.  As Moore shared during “The Overview” podcast, PVAMU is “part of their food exchange program.  We actually have to put them in the Houston Food Bank system, which is an application intake because they are considered a Food for Change Scholarship recipient.  Every student on PV’s campus is eligible to be a scholarship recipient.”

Moore said the 2019 Festival of Trees fundraiser also spread Christmas cheer to families in need.  The festival was a decoration contest between on-campus entities, and the PVAMU community voted for their favorite trees by putting coin donations into collection containers on the trees.

“Festival of Trees had six trees total donated from Panther Advisory Leaders (PALS), Disability Services, Sounds of Faith Choir, the National Association of Black Accountants, Health Services, and the Sociology Club.  The trees were donated to six families in the Houston and Hempstead areas. Overall, the project was a success, especially for two of the families who lost everything in house fires,” Moore said.

As the ERC prepares to help Panthers in 2020, Lewis says items are needed for male students.

“The Hilltop Boutique needs male everyday attire – clothing and shoes and sweaters or coats that may be available,” Lewis said.  “We do accept donations year-round in the form of non-perishable food items, clothing, shoes, accessories, and personal hygiene items.”

To make a monetary donation for the Hilltop Reserve:

  • Mail a check made out to Prairie View A&M University and “Hilltop Reserve” in the memo line;
  • Call the Office of Development at (936) 261-1550;
  • Give online through the Office of Development. Under “How to Give,” select the “Online” icon and then select “See all funds…,” then scroll down and select “Other,” which will allow you to type in “Hilltop Reserve” as the designee.

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By Michael Douglas