Promise House

Who We Are

The Promise House is a student-led community resource center that serves under-resourced students. We offers services to help peers flourish including a community café, campus food pantry, referrals to community resources, peer advocacy, volunteer opportunities, and educational workshops.

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Promise House Resources

Food

The food pantry provides a place where students can access free, healthy food. Student volunteers sort food, stock the shelves, help shoppers, and answer questions. As Promise House members, students also participate as volunteers in the pantry, coordinate food drives on campus, and offer special food-related programming, including Dine on a Dime.
Clothing

The Promise House has a partnership with the Otterbein Thrift Store. Students in need of clothing can stop by the Promise House to receive information about obtaining free or discounted clothing.
Financial Literacy Information

The Promise House works with local banks and community partners to host information sessions and workshops for students about budgeting, saving, and other financial advice pertinent to college students.
Referrals

The Promise House provides referrals to on and off campus resources. Student coordinators are trained to enroll other students in free tax preparation, assistance with financial aid, or enrollment in food assistance programs.

Get Involved

The Promise House is always looking for volunteers! If you are interested in getting involved with The Promise House please email promisehouse@otterbein.edu or call us at 614.823.2074.

History

On November 18, 2015, a group of Otterbein students gathered for a “Chili Chat”; this was an opportunity to share a bowl of chili and talk about the socioeconomic barriers that can hinder success in college. Each student shared a written story about an issue they personally faced, or one shared by a peer. One student wrote, “I work two jobs and still can’t afford shampoo.” As the evening unfolded, students made a list of the key issues they faced and brainstormed solutions to each barrier. Among the roadblocks to student success shared that night were the rising costs of textbooks, transportation costs, and their number one barrier: HUNGER.

Food insecurity has “increasingly become an issue on college and university campuses and can pose a significant barrier to student success” (Hughes et.al. 2011). Universities across the country are opening food banks to help alleviate the challenges associated with food insecurity so that students can remain in school and earn their degrees.

In response to the growing national trend of hunger on campus and the roadblocks identified by Otterbein students, the Promise House was opened in April 2016!