EFSC Foundation Awarded $9,000 Grant for Student Assistance

The Eastern Florida State College Foundation recently announced receipt of a $9,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Brevard in support of the Titan2Titan program.

"We are proud to support Eastern Florida State College's Titan2Titan program to help students, faculty, and staff across all four campuses access healthy food in a welcoming and dignified way,” said Donna Sewell, director of philanthropy and programs. “Frankly, the program addresses a fundamental need, which in turn helps people to focus on learning, working, and achieving their goals."

The Titan2Titan program at Eastern Florida State College provides free assistance to EFSC students, faculty, and staff in need through a food market and professional clothing closet. These resources are stocked through a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, grant funding, and donations from members of the EFSC community and the general public.

Previous Community Foundation for Brevard's support enabled the Titan2Titan program to add refrigerators, freezers, and shelving, allowing EFSC to become a Second Harvest Food Bank Partner School and offer fresh, perishable foods in its markets.

Recent findings from the Hope Center Student Basic Needs Survey (Spring 2023–Summer 2024) reveal that 59% of college students experience at least one form of basic needs insecurity, and 41% experience food insecurity specifically. The Hope Center's findings show that these challenges disproportionately affect part-time students, Pell Grant recipients, and those with disabilities, populations that comprise a significant portion of EFSC's student body. During the 2024–2025 academic year, 70% of students were enrolled part-time, 32% received Pell Grants, and 5% received accessibility and disability services through EFSC's Student Access for Improved Learning (SAIL) Office.

Titan2Titan awareness, utilization, and visits continue to grow, with 4,986 visits from Apr. 2025 to Apr. 2026 and 32,626 pounds of food picked up, stocked, and distributed during the same time frame. Despite strategic purchasing and inventory management, demand continues to exceed supply, underscoring the need for additional funding to sustain current service levels and expand educational outreach.

“Access to food, professional attire, and other basic necessities can make a meaningful difference in a student's ability to succeed," said Dr. Jim Richey, president of Eastern Florida State College. "We are thankful to the Community Foundation for Brevard for investing in Titan2Titan and helping us ensure that students experiencing financial hardship have the support they need to stay enrolled, complete their education, and pursue rewarding careers.”

For more information on the EFSC Foundation and the programs it supports, visit foundation.easternflorida.edu or call 321-433-7055.

Recent News