March 26, 2024
One Day for Dawgs Presents Opportunities to Support Ferris State Students in Need
More than 50 causes across Ferris State University have signed up for One Day for Dawgs and the potential impact of this year’s day of giving includes funding for academic program improvements, empowering championship athletics, and helping to provide food and housing for students in need.
Ferris State’s Bulldog Basic Needs Alliance helps secure those critical resources and emergency aid. Supporting students through the difficulties that accompany their education is central to the committee’s mission and to each of its dedicated members.
“Our students can’t be successful as students unless we ensure their basic needs are being met,” said Maggie Walcott, Chair of the BBNA. “These young people are here to learn and grow, and they’ve come to Ferris State for good reason. Our goal is to help them on their way and make sure their needs are met while they complete their education.”
As unprecedented challenges continue to rise for university students, financial aid options and campus organizations like the BBNA become increasingly important. The committee has noted an increase in aid requests as awareness of the program on campus grows each year.
“When we were starting out, we would help maybe 50 to 100 students throughout the academic year, but those numbers have really increased as both awareness of the BBNA and student needs have increased rapidly,” said Lauren Hitt, Care Coordinator for the Bulldog Basic Needs Alliance. “Last year alone we provided more than 560 meal swipes to campus dining facilities, helped keep the on-campus mini food pantry stocked, and worked to provide housing assistance for the many requests we received.”
As a consistent participant in One Day for Dawgs, the BBNA relies on support from the Ferris State University community to continue their mission. Each year the group endeavors to expand their assistance program to match the rising challenges facing students.
“Really, its about providing peace of mind and an environment to support the success of our students,” Hitt said. “Each dollar, each extra bit of funding we receive, goes back toward helping secure basic needs for Bulldog students. We use these funds to make a difference in the lives of future industry leaders and doctors as we strive to fund each request we receive and help every student who needs it.”
As the 2024 One Day for Dawgs day of giving event nears on April 10, the BBNA is steadfast in pursuing the same mission they were founded on: connecting with supporters to provide relief for students in need.
“Having done this for a few years now, having a successful campaign is both critical to the success of students on campus and a huge relief to our committee because it means we can help as many Bulldogs as possible,” Walcott said. “Each year we get more and more excited to connect with passionate supporters, pursue bigger goals to expand our capabilities, and help provide peace of mind to passionate and committed students. Our amazing donors and volunteers make that possible; thank you for all you do for the Bulldogs!”
For more information on Ferris State University’s day of giving, or to find where you can support the BBNA or one of the many other causes participating in One Day for Dawgs, visit Ferris.edu/oneday.