SAN BERNARDINO - At least no one can cut their state funding that's the one plus of not having any.

San Bernardino Valley College's Student Assistance Program lacks cash but not impact. In a climate of education cutbacks, it's a model of what can be done with very little.

The program trains student workers to help other students solve any problem that stands in the way of their education.

If baby-sitting is a problem, they look for affordable day care. If a boyfriend is violent, they find a domestic abuse program and legal help. If a student struggles with drug addiction, they find counseling. If a student can't pay his electric bill, they figure out a way to keep the lights on.

"If it's something that's going to stop education, come see us," said the program's director, James Robinson. "We believe we can help in almost anything."

The assistance center loans business clothes to students for job interviews and textbooks to students who can't afford to buy them.

"So many students drop out of this college because they can't afford books," Robinson said.

You can even get a hot meal there well, soup at least. When the program started in 1996, Robinson bought coffee to keep students going through the day. When possible, he'd bring doughnuts or cookies.

"You see a student get six cups of coffee a day and put about 12 spoonfuls of sugar in it that tells you they're hungry," Robinson said.

Now the program office has free food for students peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, microwave cups of noodle soup, crackers and cookies. Students can also buy candy bars and chips; the profits pay for the free food.

On a recent Tuesday, students crowded the program's office. Some wandered in with questions. One filled out a job application while a student worker sorted clothes for those in need. Another sipped a cup of coffee the last in the pot before her class.

"When I get off work, I come straight here and get coffee or a snack," said 45-year-old Patricia Jones, who works a graveyard shift and often sleeps just three hours a day. "I'm trying to wake up this morning."

Jones, who expects to earn her associate's degree in criminal justice this spring, is like a lot of students in this program. She gives back. Jones plans to donate clothes and books to the center.

"It keeps going around. It feels good to give back," she said.

Likewise, many of the student workers once sat on the other side of the desk.

The program helped Debbie Lemond with financial aid and scheduling. Now she helps students with everything from "homelessness that's one of our biggest issues to just simply, 'I'm hungry, I'm cold." She used to get paid through work study, but now she volunteers.

"I saw what it was doing," Lemond explained. "I came through here with a Pell Grant. (Working here) was my way to give back."

Student workers learn to break down the systems on and off campus and figure out how different places can help students.

"The big thing is just listening to people and determining what their needs are," Robinson said.

Sometimes, a simple favor makes a difference.

"If someone comes in and needs bus fare, we all look around and dig through our change purses," Lemond said.

Some student workers get paid through CalWORKs as part of their financial aid. Others earn two credits toward their degree. Workers go through 24 hours of training, work 15 to 30 hours each week and can be fired. Many plan careers in case management, human services or medical fields.

"It's great training if you're going to work with people," Robinson said.

The program doesn't get any money from the college. A handful of teachers deduct money from their paychecks for the program, providing between $60 and $100 each month.

"Everything else we earn," Robinson said, pointing to the group's bake, book and coffee sales. "You name it, we've done it."

The college doesn't totally neglect the program. After operating out of a tiny room for about six months, the program gradually moved to larger rooms as it grew. The campus renovation promises them a custom space with a small kitchen, a meeting room and cubicles for counseling.

Robinson would love to receive steady funding from the college for the program, but he's not optimistic.

"With the California budget, fat chance of that happening," he said.

Still, the program makes do with donations of money, goods and services.

"Free that's my word," Robinson said. "I love that word."

Any money left over at the end of a semester goes toward free meals for students or thank-you luncheons for teachers.

"We're not going to make money to keep it," Robinson said. "We're not about a nest egg. As soon as we get it, we give it away."

In December, the program's staff served 400 students a holiday lunch of turkey and trimmings.

"For some of our students, this may be the only meal they get of this magnitude," Robinson said of the second annual event. "They can at least say they got one good holiday meal."