Richland Gives: Helping College Students in Need

November 13, 2025

College life can be stressful for many reasons and sometimes situations arise that are totally out of a student’s control. That’s why The Ohio State University at Mansfield is proud to partner with Richland Gives – a local nonprofit that supports individuals across Richland County.

This year, Ohio State Mansfield is raising funds for the Student Emergency Fund – a special fund that provides emergency financial relief for students facing emergencies and unforeseen expenses. This includes medical bills, living expenses, car repairs and other expenses that can compromise a student’s educational experience and even compromise graduation.

“At The Ohio State University at Mansfield, we recognize that unexpected expenses can create significant barriers to student success,” said Kendra Boggs, financial aid coordinator at Ohio State Mansfield. “The Student Emergency Fund ensures that financial hardship doesn’t derail a student’s academic journey. By providing timely assistance, we help students remain enrolled, persist, and ultimately achieve their educational goals.”

Students must apply for the funds and then a committee of five decides if the application meets the requirements of an emergency. If so, a student can receive up to $1,000 per academic year, depending on the availability of funds.

Kassie Salts, a senior education major, used the fund in 2022 when a head gasket on her car’s engine blew and the repair bill was simply out of reach.

With the emergency funds, she was able to get her car fixed and continue her education at Ohio State Mansfield.

“Receiving this fund kept me in school,” said Kassie. “If I didn’t have it, I would probably have had to quit school and continue working my job at Walmart.”

photo of alexus barry — Photo courtesy of Made for Moore Photography Company/Alexis Moore.

Alexus Barry, a fourth-year student in social work, faced a similar experience in 2024 with mechanical issues. Thanks to the Student Emergency Fund, she was able to pay for the repairs and continue classes, while continuing her off-campus job.

“I had heard about the emergency fund from faculty and staff members who knew about my hardships,” said Alexus. “I got awarded some money from this fund to help pay for car expenses and it helped me tremendously. This changed my perspective on how much help this campus actually can provide to students.”

Rhea Oswalt will graduate in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in social work, but that achievement was nearly compromised in 2024.

Always a hard worker, she paid for her own housing, but a required, unpaid internship meant she could not work as many hours, and she found herself behind on rent. Faced with the threat of losing her housing, she turned to the Student Emergency Fund for critical support.

“If I had lost my housing, I would have had to move back home and that would have affected my grades quite negatively,” she said. “I received a one-time payment, and it kept me in my apartment, close to campus.”

Now through Dec. 2, your gift can make a difference in the life of a college student in need by supporting the Emergency Fund. Help us reach our goal of $10,000 and help students at Ohio State Mansfield reach their goal of graduation.

This Giving Tuesday, donate through Ohio State's platform or through Richland County Foundation's Richland Gives.

Your donation via either preferred platform will help us reach the goal of $10,000 to provide resources for our most vulnerable students.