Food, Financial, Housing, and Technology Resources to Help You Cope with the effects of COVID-19

March 19, 2020 phsmith 4-min. read

On March 17, NC State University announced it would be limiting the number of students, faculty, and staff on campus. As the university transitions to online courses for all students and makes accommodations for faculty and staff to work remotely, many are experiencing sudden food or housing insecurity or other hardships.

Fortunately, during this time of uncertainty, there are many services available from the university and the Raleigh community that are ready to assist students, faculty, and staff. Please note that these resources are subject to availability:

Pack Essentials

The Pack Essentials program is here to help students with emergencies and those experiencing housing or food insecurity. Visit dasa.ncsu.edu/pack-essentials to see the resources available and to complete an application.

Food Resources

Various on-campus locations are open and offering to-go options. Visit dining.ncsu.edu/locations to see what’s open.
Here is the list of active food pantries in Wake County
Here are Food Safety Tips from the NC State Extension
Here is a list of restaurants and stores on Hillsborough Street that are open and offer pickup or delivery
Here is a list of Downtown Raleigh restaurants that are offering delivery or curbside pickup options

Housing

Effective immediately and through the rest of the spring semester, NC State students who occupy university housing are instructed to remain at or return to their permanent off-campus residence. Campus residential facilities will remain open until 5 p.m. Sunday, March 22. The only students who will be allowed to occupy university housing after that time are those who were granted exceptions through an application process that ended at noon on Thursday, March 19, and graduate students (with families) who live permanently at E.S. King Village or Western Manor.

For the latest news about how University Housing is responding to the coronavirus pandemic, click here. For more detailed information on retrieving your belongings, moving out, mail delivery and other coronavirus-related topics, review this FAQ from University Housing.

Technology Resources and Tips for Students To Prepare for Online Learning

Distance Education Learning Technologies Applications (DELTA) offers the following tips to prepare for online learning: https://delta.ncsu.edu/news/2020/03/16/tips-for-students-to-prepare-for-online-learning/
Wolfpack Outfitters has worked with its partners to provide free access to virtual course materials through the end of the semester. More details: https://campusenterprises.ncsu.edu/2020/03/16/wolfpack-outfitters-to-provide-free-access-to-ebooks-through-may-25/

Child Care Services Association

Child Care Referral Central Services, a free referral program, is monitoring child care program closures as well as programs that may have additional capacity.

Counseling and Emotional Support

Struggling with COVID-19-related anxiety or other emotions? NC State Counseling Center & Prevention Services is here to help with a wide variety of resources: https://counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/coronavirus/

U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Self-Storage

The free month applies to new customers with college IDs and is a limited-time offer subject to availability. Click on uhaul.com/storage to find the store nearest you. Contact the store by phone or visit in person to take advantage of the offer.

Laptop Loaner Program

A limited number of laptops are available for students to check out from the Libraries on a semesterly basis. In order to request a laptop and verify availability, you will need to complete the following form: https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/techlending/laptop-request

More from the Library (as of 3/18/2020):

The Libraries still have laptops and chargers available that can be checked out until the end of the semester. It is also offering to do the same for other items such as calculators, headphones, USB chargers, cameras, etc. Walk-in requests are accepted, but in order to guarantee loaned equipment, please submit a request ahead of time to library_techlending@ncsu.edu.

Free Internet Service and Waived Fees

Spectrum/Charter has announced that they are giving free internet to students for 60 days. They need to call 1-844-488-8395. Install fees are waived for new student households. Read more.

In addition, other wireless companies across the nation are waiving fees and providing free services to customers and non-customers alike. There is a list available at https://fll.chass.ncsu.edu/resources/.

Financial Information

Read this article by The New York Times to learn how to pause your student loans, how unemployment insurance works, and other helpful information.

Rental Car Minimum Age Reduction

With colleges and universities announcing campus closures in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, Enterprise wants to make it easier for students to get home to their families by reducing the age minimum and waiving the young renter fees for rentals through May 31, 2020. Visit the Enterprise website.

Student Health Services

Student Health Primary Care and Gynecology Service providers are operating on limited hours, but will be available to maintain ongoing health care (example: for medication refills, follow-up of laboratory tests and brief questions) via secure message in the healthy pack portal. Find the most recent updates on the website.