Triton College's Troy Care Collective offers resources to students in need

Chicago Tribune

05-08-2025

Knowing that not every student can afford food, transportation, housing and clothing, Triton College is working to add care and compassion to the educational offerings at the River Grove institution of higher learning.
The Troy Care Collective is a network of supportive services that provides critical resources needed for the well-being of students and tries to let them focus on their schooling.
The new network of services integrates two existing programs with two new ones, all taking the name Troy, the ancient home of the school mascot Trojans.
The college already offered Troy Mart, which provides food and hygiene supplies to students facing financial challenges, Troy Rides, which offers transportation assistance for students having trouble getting to and from campus.
A new element is the Troy Safe Haven Program, which offers immediate safe housing through local shelter and hotel partnerships as well as financial support for rent, deposits and utilities, and childcare assistance for students who are parents.
The school also added Troy Style Station, clothing closet for students, ensuring they have access to necessary attire for school and work.
Julia Willis, who has been a dean for three years and employed by Triton for five, knows there are many students who will benefit from the program.
'Basic needs support is academic support,' Willis said. 'When we care for the whole student, we support the whole journey.'
And she noted that it's 'hard to learn on an empty stomach.'
Troy Safe Haven comes from a grant written last October through the Illinois Community College Board. When Willis learned funding was available, she pushed for the pilot program
'If they need housing, we have a partnership with a couple hotels in the area, some shelters we've connected with, and other resources,' Willis said.
In a 2024 survey of 164 respondents, 43 students self-reported experiencing homelessness or being at risk of homelessness.
The grant was received in February, 'so we're making sure students know about it. We can get eight to 10 days for a student to stay there,' Willis said, giving students time to find permanent housing.
A portion of the $25,000 grant helps students who need help with childcare, Willis said.
'It's not a lot but it does what it needs to do,' Willis said.
The Fashion Club at Triton is involved with finding clothing for the Troy Style Station, Willis said.
Stephanie Townsend, Triton's director of student support initiatives, said the program can help students prepare for a job interview, for example.
'We try to do as much as we can to help so they know where to go and how to get it,' she said.
Troy Mart resulted after Willis didn't like how students had to stand in line for the meal pantry at the financial aid office. She felt it could be a stigma for some.
She looked at meal plans at other colleges about 'how we can make it different and not so daunting for them.'
'Why not make this into what it needs to be, a Troy Mart?' she said.
Space for Troy Mart was carved out in a room at the counseling center where students can go 'without feeling alienated.'
The new location opened in November 2023 and has frozen foods, snacks, treats and fresh food. It's run by students.
'It takes the stigma away,' Willis said.
Students also can order fresh meals to eat on campus and get food to take home if needed, Willis said. Meals are prepared by other students.
Troy Rides already have proven popular.
'Last year alone, we dispatched probably over 600 rides,' Willis said. 'In Troy Mart, we serve 3,000 to 4,000 students.'
Troy Rides also started in late 2023. Townsend was inspired by having car trouble.
'One day, I had issues with my car. I was at Nissan. They asked if they'd give me a lift. They had a system set up with companies (to provide transportation.) That's when I came back to Dean Willis and we scheduled a meeting with Lyft,' Townsend said.
Rides are free for students and have taken them as far as Chicago's South Side, Willis said.
We've helped students who have had deaths in their family, house fires. We've had students in our office crying,' Townsend said.
They are realizing we care as a community. That's what we do. These services tie into that, not just for basic needs. A student comes here to better themselves, but they also have the resources needed in order to do so and not have to say 'I'm done because of this' or
'I have this barrier',' Willis said.
They can continue, complete, move on, get a job, you name it because they have the resources and support here on campus.
'It's student life,' Townsend added. 'We want to make sure our students feel comfortable to be themselves.'
Countryside resident Brigette Dolinski, 48, is one of the students to benefit from Troy Care Collective.
On July 29, she paid a visit to Troy Mart for supplies like frozen food entrees and some snacks as a reporter was being given a tour.
'I'm just happy they have this because I'm going to be here (as a student) in the fall and I'll be working in work-study and going to classes. This means I'll have something to eat.
'I'm a diabetic. You don't want my sugar to go low because I could pass out and you don't want my sugar to go high. I have to have something in the middle,' Dolinski said.
She will attend Triton this fall to work on getting a bookkeeping certificate.
Troy Care, she said, 'helps me because I'm not working and I don't have money. I get a Social Security check and that goes to (pay) bills.'
According to Willis, the Troy Care Collective was a natural step for the college to take and reflective of Triton College's mission: Valuing the individual, educating and serving the community.
'If we have students who are struggling to pay their rent, get food, or are on the verge of homelessness, how can we expect them to maintain their academic focus,' Willis said. 'This is another avenue for us to support our students. By making sure they get their basic needs met, we can help them meet their goals.'