Northern College is helping bring H.O.P.E. to those in Need

**NORTHERN COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE**

Northern College is pleased to announce its partnership with H.O.P.E. Comfort Kits & Community Outreach, a local not-for-profit working to provide health and hygiene products to those in need.

Today, Northern College took possession of 100 comfort kits, a small assortment of necessary hygiene products like soap, toothpaste and tooth brushes aimed at alleviating some of the growing financial strain being placed on college students.

“It’s very hard, very hard. People sometimes have one, to two or even three jobs, just to be able to support going to school,” said second year Police Foundations Student and Northern College Student Association Vice President Anna Black. “You really have to juggle a lot, so having these support packages for the students will help take some stress off of them.”

Helping Our People Excel (H.O.P.E.) Comfort Kits & Community Outreach has been helping those in need in the Timmins area since 2016, issuing well over six thousand packages since its formation.

“We saw the number of International students coming into the city, coming so far from home and we thought there might be a need,” said Manon Gagne, H.O.P.E. volunteer. “We want to make sure that they have the means to make ends meet, and by not having to buy these products, there is more money available to purchase staples like food.”

According to Gagne, the group works to ensure that those in need always have access to key staples, or at the very least, don’t have to make difficult financial choices that may leave them without.

“These are students that sometimes have needs that can’t be met either financially or they may not have access to those things,” said Northern College Student Life Advisor Shawna Foy. “Through community partnerships like these, we are able to support a local organization and help students at the same time.”

Northern College is committed to not only supporting local organizations, but working within its campus communities to provide students with the best support systems possible, both on and off campus.

“There are things like food security that we have to worry about, and that’s why we have our food bank,” said Foy. “These kits will also be available through our food bank, so the hygiene items, the daily, basic necessities will all be available to students because there is a need and if we can help them out, that’s what we’ll do.”