WHITTIER – The Río Hondo College Foundation is seeking immediate community support to help Río Hondo students during this unprecedented health crisis.

The Foundation is seeking donations for the Río Cares Student Relief Fund, established to assist students facing extraordinary challenges with housing, food scarcity, digital connections and stress as they juggle family, work and school during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

Donations will be used to assist students with such needs as medicine, groceries, education needs and temporary housing. One-hundred percent of all donations will go to the students.

“Our students are facing tremendous obstacles and challenges in pursuing their education,” Superintendent/President Dr. Arturo Reyes said. “Those challenges have all been magnified by the current health crisis.”

Río Hondo College moved to remote instruction in mid-March and will continue to provide off-campus instruction through its summer session. The College is providing food support to students with a drive-through pantry, has provided students with hundreds of Chromebooks and hotspots, and has expanded the availability of student services through online portals.

“We’ve taken key steps to ensure our students receive every support possible as they pursue their education,” said Vice President of Student Services Henry Gee, who also serves as interim executive director of the Río Hondo College Foundation. “Now, we need to take extra steps to help meet these other, critical needs.”

Gifts can be made via www.riohondo.edu/foundation/riocares or mailed to the Foundation at RIO CARES, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, Calif., 90601. For more information, call (562) 908-3476.