About
Mission
Position students to thrive while at Western, persist to graduation, and reach their full potential, by reducing basic needs insecurities, through passionate individuals, donor generosity, and innovative partnerships.
Vision
Upon enrollment to WMU, every student has access to the necessary resources for basic needs, to maintain well-being and fully engage in the college learning experience.
History
The Invisible Need Project, now known as Montgomery Essential Needs, was started by Karen Lamons (Residence Life), Shari Glaser (formerly Family Engagement, retired), and Julia Kuntz (University Advancement) in fall 2014 as a grassroots initiative. They recognized the concerns surrounding students' unmet basic needs and wanted to promote a culture of giving within the WMU community to meet those needs. The committee focused on offering a food pantry, student emergency fund, and promoting the health fund available through Sindecuse Health Center.
The pantry's original location was in the Student Affairs Suite, in Faunce Student Services, before moving to the Kiva Room, in the lower level of Faunce in fall 2018. The Student Emergency Relief Fund started with the sale of t-shirts by committee members, and it has since grown to a partnership with Intercollegiate Athletics and the WMU Bookstore, with sales of the annual Game Day t-shirt supporting the fund.
In fall 2023, the Invisible Need Project transitioned to Essential Needs to better reflect the role the program serves in students' lives.
“The University has recognized that these unmet needs are no longer invisible on campus, and that these unmet needs are also essential to student success, which is why we changed our name,” says Donielle Easlick, Essential Needs program manager. “We know that unmet basic needs can prevent students from attending class or even graduating. The name change is a very deliberate choice to really put that reality up front and kind of own that, claim it and really be there to help students with what they need.”
As President Edward Montgomery prepared to retire in spring 2025, the program was named Montgomery Essential Needs to pay tribute to his tenure, which was dedicated to creating pathways to student success while removing barriers to student well-being.