Food

• Women’s Center Pantry: The pantry, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, provides groceries to both men and women in need. The free service launched last year, and donations come from the Women’s Center Advisory Board and members of the community.

• Kent Campus Kitchen: The pantry stocks basic, staple foods for college students. There are no set hours, so interested students should email Ann Gosky, Campus Kitchen project adviser, to pick up groceries, Gosky said. Her email is [email protected].

• Church meals: The Loaves and Fishes project provides free meals at churches throughout Portage County, including: Center of Hope in Ravenna, Christ Lutheran in Mantua, Covenant Bible Fellowship in Garrettsville, Streetsboro United Methodist in Streetsboro, Parkman Congregational in Parkman, Windham Congregational in Windham, Mantua Center Christian in Mantua, Nelson United Methodist in Nelson, First United Methodist in Ravenna and Bazetta Christian in Cortland.

• Food stamp office: Students who want to receive food stamps from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services must make less than $1,180 a month or $1,594 if living with a significant other, said Kevin Gowan, Portage County family services administrator. To qualify, the applicant must be at least one of the following: younger than 17 or older than 50, physically or mentally disabled, receiving cash public assistance, involved in a federal work activity program, employed for a minimum of 20 hours while in school, participating in a work-study program, participating in on-job training program through specific employers or responsible for a child younger than 12.

Tuition help

The Bursar’s office provides different payment plans including:

• The Installment Plan: Students pay their tuition in three separate checks each semester.

• Kent First: This plan is only open to freshmen at the Kent campus during fall semester, but it allows a one-time down payment followed by 42 monthly payments.

• Tuition Management Systems: Students can pay their tuition in 10 separate checks throughout fall and spring semesters.

Heat

• HEAP: The Home Energy Assistance Program provides assistance to students who live off campus and have a household income lower than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Students do not have to be employed to receive the assistance, but the program looks at student grants and parents’ incomes. HEAP’s Winter Crisis Program also provides assistance once per season to eligible households that become disconnected or are threatened to be disconnected from heat.

Transportation/ car repairs

• For a financial emergency — like car trouble — Kent State offers short-term loans without question to students enrolled in at least one course who have a 2.0 GPA, said Stina Olafsdottir, manager of student accounts receivable with the Bursar’s Office. The university offers up to $500, which can be repaid at the end of the school year.

• PARTA buses run on campus until 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and to the stadium until 3 a.m. Monday through Thursday. There are also buses that go to Wal-Mart, Acme Fresh Markets, Stow Shopping Centers, Silver Meadows, downtown Kent, Ravenna, Akron and Cleveland.

• PARTA offers Dial-A-Ride service Monday through Friday in and around Kent for a $4 two-way fee or through discounted passes. Call 330-678-1287 ext. 119 or 330-678-7745 ext. 108 with any questions on routes that PARTA offers.

Computer help

Tech Spot in the Tri-Towers Rotunda can help with the following issues:

• Computer networks, wireless and login issues: Free of charge

• Memory (RAM) upgrades and troubleshooting: Costs start at $25.

• Software installation: Costs start at $25.

• Hardware diagnostics: Costs start at $15.

• Physical computer cleaning and liquid damage diagnostics: Costs start at $25.

• Mobile software troubleshooting: Costs start at $30.

• Hardware installations: Costs start at $45.

• Virus or spyware removal: Costs start at $45.

• Data transfer and iPod data migration: Costs start at $50.

• Operating system installation with data transfer: Costs start at $65.

• Any two standard services listed above: Costs $85 maximum.

Counseling

• White Hall counseling: Free, confidential counseling provided by graduate students.

• Psychological Services at DeWeese Health Center: These appointments are not free, but they’re on campus and provided by professionals.

• Psychological Clinic in Kent Hall: Master’s and doctoral students give advice and mental health assessments. They can assess ADHD, learning disabilities, intellectual levels and more.

Legal help

Student Legal Services provides discounted lawyers for the following:

• Landlord-tenant issues: defense of eviction actions, security deposit disputes, obtaining repairs and reviewing lease or sub-lease agreements.

• Misdemeanor crimes: driving under the influence, underage alcohol possession, presenting false identification, traffic offenses, petty theft and drug offenses.

• Consumer transaction issues: lemon law violations, breach of warranties, review of consumer and employment contracts and negotiation with debt collectors.

• Domestic issues: uncontested dissolution, name changes, paternity dispute resolution, victims of crime reparations, actions of conversion in property, recovery of unlawfully held property.

• Miscellaneous issues: expungement of criminal records, investigation and factual research, conferences and negotiations and living wills.

Contact Megan Wilkinson at [email protected].