Free take away lunch for students in financial need

From the very beginning of the Studierendenwerk, there were so-called "free tables" for students in financial need. This tradition is now again taking place in the dining halls: Students in Aachen, who are in financial need due to the Corona crisis, will receive a daily free take away meal at Mensa Academica and Mensa Vita from Monday, 13 July.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit many students hard. Since some of them have lost their jobs, for example, they now do not have an important financial basis. The recently introduced bridging assistance, a grant from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which can be applied for in June, July and August 2020, is intended to remedy this situation. In addition, the Studierendenwerk has been able to alleviate social hardship since the beginning of the pandemic by adjusting the rental conditions for the residence halls.

In addition to the various offers for financing studies and the appropriate food prices for students, Studierendenwerk can now fulfil its social mission even better and help young people in need. Dirk Reitz, CEO of Studierendenwerk Aachen, welcomes the measure: "Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been supporting students in acute need with various offers of help. Now we are pleased to be able to make an important contribution with the free take away lunch in the dining halls too!”

An application for free meals can be made by students who can prove that they have received bridging assistance from the Federal Government or who have applied for and been granted support according to the respective rules of their student representing body for reasons of social hardship. This includes, for example, RWTH students who receive the social loan from AStA or the ProRWTH bridging grant. In addition, all students who have had their semester ticket refunded due to social hardship can benefit from the free take away lunch.

The respective AStAs of the universities are responsible for issuing a certificate for students of the RWTH or FH Aachen. Information on how to apply and on the eligibility criteria is provided by the AStAs on their websites. Students of the KatHO Aachen contact the Förderverein der Katholischen Hochschule (Support Association).