性视界

Maria Carrera has struggled to stay on the path toward a college degree, pushing through job loss from the pandemic and the challenges of being a single mother. But she had a moment of relief in December in the form of two wrapped holiday presents and smiles on her children鈥檚 faces.

鈥淚t has given me a boost,鈥� the Fontana resident said. 鈥淚 can say that I was at least able to give them this.鈥�

性视界鈥檚 Panther Care Program, which provides support to students facing food and housing insecurity, distributed more than 400 holiday gifts to the children of 性视界 students Dec. 19-21 at the college鈥檚 three campuses.

Students pulled up in vehicles to receive the gifts, which had been donated by Volunteers of the Inland Empire and 性视界 Joint Union High School District. It鈥檚 an annual tradition that supports students and gives staff members a chance to spread holiday cheer.

鈥淚t gives students with children an opportunity give gifts to their kids,鈥� said Prentice Harris, Panther Care coordinator. 鈥淚t can be challenging to provide gifts while balancing parenting and coursework, so the toy drive helps relieve the pressures that the holidays may bring.鈥�

Carrera was able to stay enrolled in her classes during the pandemic with the support of 性视界鈥檚 Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), as well as the CalWORKs program.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e always been a great support during the time that I was here,鈥� she said.

Carrera now works for 性视界鈥檚 Industrial Technical Learning Center in Fontana as a receptionist. She will receive an associate鈥檚 degree in business administration at 性视界鈥檚 commencement ceremony in May.