The FRESH Basic Needs Hub is a student-initiated center that promotes equitable access to basic needs. Our services are open to all undergraduate and graduate UCI students. FRESH offers emergency food and toiletries, CalFresh application assistance, connects students to critical on and off-campus resources, and provides educational opportunities for students.

The UCI Food Pantry housed at FRESH provides emergency food and toiletries to UCI students experiencing basic needs insecurities. Students can access our pantry once per week using their UCI Student ID card or by providing your student ID number at the check-in station. All information is kept confidential. Item maximums are regulated through our one basket per student policy.

CalFresh is a federal nutrition assistance program that helps people purchase healthy foods at most grocery stores and farmers markets. Students can receive anywhere up to $250 per month to purchase groceries. FRESH offers 1-1 CalFresh application assistance appointments in-person or via Zoom.

Emergency Meal Swipes help students who are experiencing food insecurity and/or a student-related emergency, access healthy and well-balanced meals offered at UCI Dining Commons.

• Be a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at UCI,
• demonstrate a financial crisis that is affecting their access to housing, food, medical and/or mental health care, AND
• must have used all of their loans available to them.
  

Additionally, the student must have unmet need in their Financial Aid package per Financial Aid. The only exception to Financial Aid regulations is for international students who do not file a FAFSA/CA Dream Act application.

Confidential peer-to-peer, financial wellness consultations that provide students with resources & education to achieve their financial goals in a college environment.

STAY TUNED: Appointments will be released Winter Quarter, Friday Week 2

Thank you so much for thinking of supporting our students in need!

For food donations, we accept non-perishable and perishable goods as long as they are unopened and unexpired.

We also accept monetary donations as well through the UCI Portal.