Hand-painted tote bags, giveaways and live music at this years Spring Resource Fair

Students and faculty were all hands on deck with information and activities at this year’s Spring Resource Fair, held at Long Beach City College’s Liberal Arts campus on Friday, Apr. 3, in the courtyard entrance from 10 a.m to 1 p.m.

Every semester, LBCC provides opportunities such as the Spring Resource Fair to inform students of the assistance that is offered on campus. 

Various departments and clubs provided students with resources available to them, ranging from basic needs food, important scholarship information and financial aid assistance on hand.

One booth featured both the LBCC basic needs program and CalFresh, which allowed students to know more about the Viking Vault, located at both the LAC and TTC campuses.

^{A student is painting his LBCC basic needs tote bag at the Spring Resource Fair on Friday, Apr. 3. Students were encouraged to do a creative activity while informing students to be more eco-friendly and answer questions related to the basic needs program, including the Viking Vault. (Keith Lewis)}

Students and faculty were encouraged to paint their own LBCC tote bag, emphasizing the need to use them instead of the brown paper bags offered at most grocery stores.

LBCC Student Success Coach, Nicole DeLeon, was setting up more tote bags and getting students to paint while she emphasized what the basic needs program is supporting.

“The basic needs program is collaborating with CalFresh today to promote the use of a reusable tote bag and stop using paper bags,” DeLeon said.

CalFresh is a statewide government-funded food assistance program that is offered to low-income students to ensure they do not go without eating.

English major William Strang, who is attending his second semester at LBCC, found out about the event two days prior and stopped by specifically to paint his very own tote bag.

“Yes, I came just for the tote bag. I saw on campus that they were having this event two days ago, and thought it was something I wanted to make,” Strang said.

^{LBCC English major William Strang is painting a tote bag provided by the Basic Needs program and collaborator CalFresh at the Spring Resource Fair on Friday, Apr. 3 at the Liberal Arts campus. Strang heard about the event two days prior from a campus flyer. (Keith Lewis)}

Another popular event was the booth held by the LBCC counseling department featuring rocks that students or faculty were able to paint, take home after drying and use as an art piece in their own personal space.

LBCC counselor Joan Lee and student success coach Wendy Camacho were facilitating the booth’s activity. 

“We’re here to answer any questions that students have regarding their credits or graduation, Joan is actually a student counselor on campus,” Camacho said, who also added, “and if you enjoy painting, or you just need to take a break from class, we’re here for that too.”

^{A display of painted rocks was drying at LBCC’s Spring Resource Fair. Students were encouraged to participate in the creative activity while asking counseling-related questions during on-site counselor sessions on Friday, Apr. 3. (Keith Lewis)}

Aside from activities and live music provided by the LBCC resident DJ, Mr. Quick, a booth held by the scholarship office and financial aid department was there to assist students with related questions.

LBCC scholarship faculty member Megann Jenkins was assisting students in signing up for a raffle in which the office was offering a $25 gift card to those who stopped by.

Jenkins also shared some exciting news for students, like most, who are facing financial hardships at LBCC.

“Compared to last year, we have more students applying for scholarships; there is definitely more of a need, and we have extended the deadline for students to apply for scholarships,” Jenkins said.

^{LBCC scholarship assistant Megann Jenkins passed out raffle tickets at the scholarship department’s vendor booth at the Spring Resource Fair held on Friday, Apr. 3, at the Liberal Arts campus. Jenkins also answered students’ questions and informed them that the scholarship application deadline had been extended due to additional funding available. (Keith Lewis)}

The deadline for students to apply for scholarships this year was on Thursday, Feb. 26, according to the student portal website given to LBCC students to apply.

Ultimately, the Spring Resource Fair served as a reminder that LBCC’s dedication to supporting students both inside and outside the classroom, with resources ranging from basic needs to scholarship awareness, reinforces LBCC’s mission to help every student excel.