How the university is helping students in need

Students lacking access to food, housing, clothing and financial and mental health resources—known as essential needs insecurity—face substantial barriers that can hinder academic performance and well-being. “Food is a necessity, not a luxury,” says Krista Bair, a student volunteer and director of fundraising for Buckeye Food Alliance, Ohio State’s food pantry. “No student should suffer just because they are in college and can’t afford to eat well.”

The sophomore, studying computer science and engineering, grew up in a rural town in Ohio where she was exposed to food insecurity. “When I thought of college, I assumed students could afford their essentials, but that’s not always the case,” she says. In fact, more than 30 percent of Ohio State students experience food insecurity, according to a 2024 Office of Student Life report. During fiscal year 2024, Buckeye Food Alliance reported more than 8,500 visits, up 31 percent from the previous year.

Bair’s dedication to helping reflects Ohio State’s commitment to supporting students, regardless of their challenges. In April, the Monda Student Resource Center (MSRC) will open—thanks to the generosity of donors Keith Monda ’68, ’71 MA and his partner, Veronica Brady—further enhancing the university’s ability to help students become successful.

“Buckeyes are at our best when we are working together for the good of others,” says Melissa Shivers, senior vice president for student life. “That is one reason Ohio State is so invested in helping students meet their essential needs.”

Situated in the Younkin Success Center on Neil Avenue, the MSRC will bring an existing network of services and resources under one roof. Students will be able to access food, professional clothing and other essential needs support like emergency grants and housing assistance. Also located within Younkin are mental health, academic and career support resources. “The Monda Student Resource Center will provide a one-stop shop for these resources, making it as easy as possible for students to access the vital support they may need,” Shivers says.

The center’s centralized location improves accessibility—students can walk, drive or take a bus there—and hours of operation are staggered to accommodate varying schedules. By investing in the MSRC, Monda and Brady hope to remove barriers to success for students, raise awareness and reduce stigma about essential needs insecurity.

“It’s one thing to talk in theory, and it’s another to look at the reality of the situation,” Brady says. “We live in Sarasota and within a mile of any single one of us, there is a child who is food insecure. It’s important we have that same level of awareness at Ohio State, understanding a student might appear to be fine, but they might not be.”

Monda says: “There are so many wonderful scholarships and you hear how well students are funded. What people don’t realize is students are struggling with food insecurity or getting ready for a job interview and don’t have what they need to wear.”

For example, when Lindsey Didier, a JD student in the Moritz College of Law living on a limited budget, needed an outfit for business-related events, she attended a Career Closet pop-up. “I found a pair of pants and a blouse that fit like they were made for me,” Didier says. Career Closet, which offers gently used clothes donated by faculty, staff and community members, will soon be a permanent part of the MSRC.

Bair wants students to know there is no disgrace in asking for help, a mindset that often prevents people from reaching out. “I had a student come into the pantry, visibly upset, saying she didn’t deserve help,” Bair says. “I told her, ‘You do deserve this. There’s no such thing as deserving basic needs.’”

Monda and Brady agree. “We must make it acceptable for them to come forward,” Monda says. “It’s not that you didn’t do something right or that you aren’t good enough. Circumstances didn’t work for you. We’re going to put you in a place where you can succeed and take down those barriers.”

Why we give: Veronica Brady & Keith Monda

Keith ’68, ’71 MA: “I had a successful career, and I believe that motivated my need to make a difference. I said to myself, you made this money and now you’ve got to figure out how you can use it in a way that helps society. After retiring, I wanted to devote the rest of my life to service and philanthropy.”

Veronica: “In the words of the great Betty Schoenbaum [a Buckeye philanthropist and co-founder of Shoney’s restaurants], ‘The joy of giving is the joy of living.’ It really is a joyful thing to be able to make a difference for somebody else.”

Keith: “Giving everyone an opportunity to succeed has always been a big part of both of our frameworks. Not everyone will succeed, but if you level that playing field a little bit, if everyone gets the opportunity, then they can choose what they are going to do with it.”
Veronica: “We hope to bring more people to causes. We don’t care as much about where you give as long as you’re giving.”

Keith: “It all starts in the hunger space. It’s been a real opportunity and eye-opening experience, having served on local and national food bank boards. I know how important this need is.”

Illustrations by Michael Hoeweler