February 2025 Newsletter

Hey Highlanders! We hope you’re enjoying the lovely springtime weather as the semester is in full swing! Spring break is right around the corner, so we’re sending you all the positive vibes and helpful resources as you keep up your hard work. If you ever need additional support or someone to talk to, please reach out to a member of the CREW! We are here for you.

Spotlight: New Resource Databases

We have been quietly hard at work developing some phenomenal resources, and we’re finally ready to share them with you!

First, we created a searchable resource database that will allow you to find community-based resources. Whether you’re in a rural county, need assistance after hours, or want to help out a friend, we hope you’ll find this table useful! You can search and filter by resource name, population served, type of resource, and services offered. Each entry also provides contact info, including phone, address, and website. Have a look!

Second, we build an asset map that allows you to visually see the same resources on a map of Waco and surrounding counties. These resources can be filtered by category. Each entry is connected to a Google listing—through which you can find contact info like a phone number, email, address, and website. Check it out!

Do you know of a resource that is not currently listed? Send us an email and we’ll add it if it’s a good fit!

Shout-out!

Thanks to Yareth Varela, our MSW intern, and Emma Cartisano, our doctoral intern, on all their hard work this year gathering resources and getting these interactive tools ready!

Featured Event: JCPenny Suit-Up Event

Join Advising & Career Services and the University Center at JCPenney on March 22 between 11 am - 2 pm for the annual Sui-Up Event! Receive up to 45% off career wear, shoes, and accessories. You must show your student ID. Email careers@mclennan.edu with any questions.

Self-Care Tip

Do you ever feel lonely? That can be a very vulnerable, scary thing to admit. In a time when we count popularity by likes and follows, it can seem like we’re surrounded by people who know and support us. We are in an age of constant connection, aided by technology and media.

But the reality is that we’re lonelier than ever before—with approximately 60% of Americans reporting feelings of loneliness or isolation. US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy calls this “the epidemic of loneliness” — a problem fueled by a whole host of sociological factors (you can read more in his 2023 Report).

Murthy proposed several potential strategies for mitigating the loneliness many adults feel, and the one I’m sharing might be surprising.

Get out and volunteer in the community.

When we volunteer, we experience meaningful, in-person interactions with other humans, which brings us out of isolation. Additionally, volunteering shifts our focus off ourselves and the things we’re feeling; instead, we experience a little boost in feel-good hormones as we activate our brain’s reward system. Plus, volunteering brings us into proximity with other great humans who share common interests that we might never have met otherwise. Volunteering might provide an emotional support resource we didn’t know we needed!

As students and professionals, it can be daunting to think about adding another commitment to our schedules. The good news is that what’s important is consistency. Whether we volunteer 5 hours a week or 2 hours a month, consistently showing up to the people and the causes that matter is what will allow us to reap the benefits of volunteering.

Want to read more? Here’s an easy-to-read NYT article. Murthy’s book Together explains the science and research behind loneliness and how we might remedy it. And the US Surgeon General’s Report is another great resource.

Easy Recipe

We just got a shipment of food in for Paulanne’s Pantry this morning, and all the fresh veggies inspired this month’s recipe: a delicious, one-pot potato corn chowder! Need some more protein? Easily add some chicken or ground turkey that you’ve sauteed.

Need any ingredients? Swing by Paulanne’s for some non-perishable goods, grains, frozen meat, fresh fruit, cheese, and/or milk! There’s a good chance we’ll have most of the ingredients for this meal when you stop by to shop the pantry!

Potato Corn Chowder (Budget Bytes)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Servings: 8 (1.5 cups ea)

INGREDIENTS

4 tsp vegetable bouillon
8 cups water, hot
1 yellow onion, diced (about 1.5 cups)
3 Tbsp garlic, minced
2 cups celery, diced (about 6 ribs of celery)
1 tsp dried thyme
¼ tsp chili flakes
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
2 Tbsp salted butter
1 Tbsp olive oil
½ Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1.5 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, diced small (4 medium/small potatoes)*
12 oz. frozen corn, rinsed (canned corn works too)
1 cup whole milk, room temperature**
2 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced

INSTRUCTIONS

Gather fresh ingredients and prepare vegetable broth using the vegetable bouillon and water.
To a large soup pot over medium-high heat, add onion, garlic, celery, dried thyme, chili flakes, salt, black pepper, butter, and olive oil on medium heat. Cook until vegetables have started to soften, about 8 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add apple cider vinegar, the diced potatoes and rinsed frozen corn. Cook with the garlicky veggies for about 10 minutes until the potatoes are about half cooked, still with a little bit of bite to them.
Add vegetable broth and room temperature milk, scraping up any bits of veggies from the bottom of the pot. Stir to combine.
Simmer (do not boil)*** over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until potatoes are fully cooked, about 20 minutes.
Remove 2 cups of broth and whisk in the flour until smooth. Add back to the pot and stir to combine. Once the soup has simmered and thickened to your liking, test the vegetables. When the potatoes are done, the soup is done!
Mix in the minced fresh parsley or sprinkle it on top as garnish, and serve!

NOTES

*Dicing your potatoes small will help them cook faster.

**Room temperature half & half and cream are ok in this soup. For dairy-free, use coconut milk or blend a small amount of the potatoes and broth, adding it back to the soup pot. You can also make a slurry by removing a cup of broth and whisking 1 Tbsp flour into it, pouring the thickened liquid back into the pot, and repeating this step until the desired thickness is reached. Use dairy-free butter, too!

***It's important that the chowder doesn't come to a boil. This can cause the milk to separate, which we don't want! Room temperature milk and a gentle simmer are best. Also, be sure to turn the heat to medium-low before adding the milk.

NUTRITION (per 1 serving)

CREW This Month

Thursday, 3/13, 3–4pm @ Parking Lot R || Shepherd’s Heart Food Distribution

Swing by Lot R for FREE food from Shepherd’s Heart! Free and open to anyone in the community!

Thursday, 3/20, 11:30am – 1:30pm @ SLC || Third Thursday Thoroughfare

Come for free lunch and learn about resources in McLennan County just for college students!

Saturday, 3/22, 11am – 2pm @ Richland Mall JCPenney || JCPenney Suit-Up Event

Show your student ID for up to 45% off career wear, shoes, and accessories.

More events are available on the CREW calendar! Be sure to save the calendar so you never miss an event!

View past newsletters.

*Composed by Emma Cartisano*