It doesn’t take much for a college student to get by — a Salvation Army couch here, some pizza coupons there and they’re set.

But many international students arrive at their new home in Fort Worth with less than that. Sponsor families provide tuition assistance, but students don’t know where to go for money to set up their utilities or for a ride to the doctor.

That’s where Mary LaRue Clark ’75 comes in. Last year, she founded her own nonprofit company — Clark Educational Services, Inc. — to help foreign-born music students find housing and financial support.

“I’ve set up water and electricity. I’ve furnished an apartment for $100. I drive some of them to places in town they need to go,” said Clark, who is officially sponsoring one student but also helps four others.

There are twice as many needy students as sponsors, which must have $2,000 set aside for their student. Clark is hoping her efforts will pick up the slack.

She’s had the budding professionals play mini concerts at private parties and at area public schools for donations. She brokered discounted rates with an apartment association and coaxed one donor into giving up an old car. Eventually, Clark wants to start a pantry and have a storage unit of furniture.

“They gives us so much through their music. I just want to give them something that makes their living here a little more comfortable,” she said.