Toni’s Kitchen Partnering with HESAA to Raise Awareness about Financial Assistance for College

In addition to groceries, prepared food and toiletries from the Choice Pantry service, Toni's Kitchen also helps guests improve their lives through community partnerships in the areas of health and wellness, legal aid, housing, Internet access and counseling. Another program added in October 2023 gives interested guests a way to get information about assistance in paying for college for themselves or for family members.

Toni's is partnering with HESAA (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority), which is the only New Jersey state agency with the sole mission of providing students and families with financial and informational resources for students to pursue education beyond high school. It was established in 1959 and through the years has grown its offering to include a large number of needs-based financial aid grants, scholarships and college savings grants to New Jersey's two-year community colleges and four-year public universities for New Jersey residents.

According to Nancy Xenakis, a staff member of Toni's Kitchen who manages the partnership, representatives of HESAA visit Toni's once a month on Wednesdays during Choice Pantry. "HESAA sets up a table with helpful informational flyers and forms, staffed by a few steady representatives who get to know our guests and offer helpful guidance customized to their needs in both English and Spanish," says Nancy. "The information is for high school students thinking about going to college as well as adults who are interested in going back to school."

The overall feedback from guests so far has been very positive and the majority were unaware of the extent of the financial aid available from the state of New Jersey that they may be eligible for and can take advantage of.

So far since the start of the partnership, 94 guests have received initial information about the assistance available with the majority interested in Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and College Promise followed by NJ Dreamers and NJ-Governor's Industry Vocations Scholarship (NJ-GIVS). HESAA has attracted guests of all ages, including adults interested in information for their children or grandchildren as well as adults interested in information for themselves. Several guests have followed up with HESAA post-onsite with questions and for assistance with application forms.

Nancy worked with HESAA's Program Officer to tailor the program specifically to the needs of Toni's Kitchen's guests. 

This partnership is another of our many programs at Toni's Kitchen designed to assist our guests in improving their health and wellness and to lead more independent lives.