U-ACCESS: A Resource for Students at UMB

Hello, everyone! Hope everyone was safe during rainy and stormy weekend. This week on Survival Guide, we're going to play things up a little and take a virtual tour of one the most helpful resource available for UMass Boston on the campus. As there's always a crowd of students milling around the office, ready to help out, I hope many of you are familiar with this, but if you're not, today is your lucky day! The U-ACCESS Food Pantry is a phenomenal resource, and today we're going to have an exclusive interview with LaToya Shuler, the assistant coordinator for U-ACCESS, who in my opinion, is one of the reincarnations superwoman herself. Her cheerful personality make her approachable, and her ever helpful nature and fierce loyalty for her students in making sure you get all the help you need make her a great person to have on your side.

Without any further ado, here's the exclusive interview I promised:

Manasvi: Hi LaToya, welcome to this week's Survival Guide!

LaToya: Thank you, happy to be here.

Manasvi: So let's get right into it. Tell us more about U-ACCESS.

LaToya: It's a resource office for students having a hard time, dealing with any issue they would come across moving from childhood to adulthood--like financing, applying for benefits, anything to advocate for themselves.

Manasvi: Right. What kind of resources do you offer that students can take advantage of?

LaToya: Well, we have a food pantry, we help with housing, help people who are being emancipated from foster care, immigration issues, helping people with internships; pretty much the sky is the limit on the services that I offer here. If the students are in need and I can't help them, I will get them the resources inside or outside the school.

Manasvi: See what I meant? Superwoman, ladies and gents. Okay. Moving on. Are only UMass Boston students privy to the resources you offer or are outsiders included in that too?

LaToya: No, it would be UMass Boston students only. And it would really depend on the service being requested here. I mean, I would never turn a student away. If I can get them to a resource to help them out, of course I would.

Manasvi: What do students need to do before they are "eligible" to sign up for the food pantry?

LaToya: Well, the students need to be enrolled for at least 1 credit. But there's this weird stage after graduating, once you're in a new job and don't get paid for like, 2 weeks, so I don't mind alumni coming in to access the services during those times because I'm not going to simply let them go cold turkey. If they need me during that transition stage, I'm more than happy to help them out.

Manasvi: On an average, what's the number of students who sign up for the food pantry each academic year?

LaToya: Well, we have about 300 students as of today.

Manasvi: And you also offer volunteer opportunities for students?

LaToya: Lots and lots of volunteer opportunities available, and there'll be plenty more coming up. We're trying to work on having an U-ACCESS Day during the first week of May, where we're going to have people from around the city come in and speak about the services offered in the area and have students sign up and show them how to advocate with these services once they're in need of them.

Manasvi: That's so cool! And for those students who don't know, where is your office located?

LaToya: We're in the Campus Center, on the 2nd floor, suite 2300. And just for my own plug, we're always down for people to do food drives (laughs).

Manasvi: And what's the best way to contact you?

LaToya: You can email us, or call 617-287-3195--that's my direct number, and I always welcome walk-ins as well.

Manasvi: Great! Anything else you'd like to add?

LaToya: Just know that you don't have to deal with any issue by yourself. If you feel lost or you feel like you need someone to help you navigate the UMass Boston system, you can contact me and I will help you in any way you need.

Manasvi: Perfect! That's amazing. Thank you so much for doing this.

Here are a few pictures of the food pantry:

For anyone interested, here is the website for more information.

As established, U-ACCESS is a wonderful resource opportunity that any student in need should take advantage of. You won't be disappointed, I promise! Additionally, the Food Pantry also accepts donations of any kind (seriously, anything you feel someone else might need). So if you ever have extra food or toiletries or cleaning supplies and don't want to throw it out or let is sit in your house, please come by to the office to drop them off for someone in need of them.

Spread the word, make sure anyone you think who would benefit from such a resource is aware that we offer it on campus.

That's it for this week. Stay safe and warm!

~Manasvi