Saints Care Center meets students鈥� basic needs
July 24, 2025
Santa Fe College鈥檚 Saints Care Center on the Northwest Campus is a new hub for students seeking help with basic needs beyond the classroom.
Funded by a $900,000 Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Grant, the Saints Care Center is designed to help students overcome barriers related to food, housing, transportation, technology, and wellness. The goal is to ensure that students have the resources they need to stay enrolled, succeed academically, and transition into meaningful employment.
Students say that housing, utilities, and course materials are among their most pressing concerns.
鈥淥ur mission is to help students meet their basic needs so they can focus on their
education and build a future with stability and opportunity,鈥� said JB Brown, coordinator
of the Saints Care Center.
The Saints Care Center, located in S-112, is staffed by a dedicated team with a deep
commitment to student success. Brown leads the center鈥檚 strategic direction, overseeing
operations and ensuring alignment with institutional goals to support student success.
Food Pantry Manager Brianna Shallenberger, an 麻豆原创 graduate, oversees daily pantry operations
and volunteer coordination. Case Manager Reid Robinson brings more than a decade of
experience as a school counselor and provides personalized support to students navigating
complex life circumstances.
Some services such as grocery bags and the food pantry managed by Student Life now
fall under the Saints Care Center鈥檚 purview.
The Center opened on May 16 and already has:
- Distributed 155 grocery bags
- Welcomed more than 50 new pantry users
- Received 258 responses to the Basic Needs Survey
- Provided direct support to 8 students and received 12 referrals from other departments
The Center also collaborates with departments across campus, including the Counseling Center, Library, and the Office of the Ombuds, to connect students with timely and effective support.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to refer students to the Saints Care Center using
the referral form available on the Center鈥檚 webpage, where you may also find instructions
for making donations. An Early Alert option through Navigate will also be available
in Fall 2025. The Center emphasizes the importance of meaningful conversations with
students to better understand and address the barriers they may face.
For information or to get involved, contact Brown at Jb.brown1@sfcollege.edu or visit the Saints Care page.
