Welcome to our Pantries!
The UCI Basic Needs Center utilizes two pantry models: The FRESH Pantry and the Mobile Pantry
The FRESH Pantry
The FRESH Pantry provides emergency food and toiletries to UCI students experiencing basic needs insecurities. UCI students can access this resource with their UCINetID. All information is kept confidential.
The Mobile Pantry
The Mobile Pantry is our second pantry model that brings food closer to students. Our 22-foot customized delivery van is designed to make food more accessible to students and bring it closer to where they live.
The Mobile Food Pantry is on campus on the first Friday of each month and operates in tandem with the UCI Basic Needs Center’s FRESH pantry.
Accessing the Pantries
Pantry Community Guidelines
For those who are new to our FRESH and Mobile Pantries, please review our community guidelines before your first pantry visit! Here you will find details on your shopping time, basket limit, and more.
Client Agreement Form
Before accessing the FRESH Pantry, please make sure you read and agree to the following statements. We will ask you to fill out this form at least once per academic year.
Secure a Pantry or Spring Break Grocery Bag
appointment below!
Pantry Calendar
View Accessible VersionOur pantry can only support current UCI undergraduate and graduate students. UCI Staff and Postdoctoral Researchers are encouraged to check out community resources. Appointments for the week release every Monday (unless there is a holiday prior). If all appointments are booked, please visit our other services or email basicneeds@uci.edu for more support.
Join Our Virtual Walk-In Line
Interested in joining our virtual walk-in line? Our queue opens at 9:45AM on our open FRESH Pantry days. Students will continue to be served on a 15-minutes basis.
- You will receive a text notification once you have successfully joined the walk-in line.
- You may receive updates on your wait time and place in line.
- You will be texted, “It’s now your turn…” at the time you are able to shop.
- Please arrive within 10 minutes of being texted and be ready to provide your name and text confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have a phone or I’m having issues connecting.
Visit our front desk to receive a number. Your number will be called when it’s your turn.
Can I join the line when I’m at home?
Yes, just make sure you are able to make it to the FRESH Pantry by the time it’s your turn! You can leave the virtual line at any time or place yourself later in the queue if you need more time to arrive.
I joined the virtual line but am now running late, what do I do?
Text M for more time. You’ll be pushed back in the queue to give you some more time to arrive for your shopping period.
Pantry Access/Mobility Accommodation Request
Do you have access or mobility concerns reaching our center?
The Basic Needs Center sits a distance away from the nearest parking lot and there are a few inclines in between to get to our space. If you have access or mobility concerns in getting to our center, please fill out a mobility accommodation form to request alternative access to emergency food (pantry) support. A staff member will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
In addition, please fill out this form if you are requesting access to the FRESH Pantry as a visiting scholar or postdoctoral fellow. Please note our pantry currently only serves enrolled undergrad students and graduate students. Visiting scholars or postdoctoral fellows are coded in the system as staff; therefore, an exception is required.
For any questions, please contact our Front Desk at (949) 824-0607
Parking
Planning to drive to the FRESH Pantry? Parking permits are required in all UCI parking lots except for six marked stalls in Lot 6. Visit the UCI Transportation and Distribution Services website to purchase a permit or to view which permits are accepted in the following lots.
Lot 6
- Permits accepted: AR Reserved only
- Temporary parking spots labeled “This space reserved exclusively for UCI Basic Needs Center” are available for student visitors. A permit is not required to park in those spots. We ask our visitors to only use these stalls temporarily for their visit to our center, as the number of stalls is limited and we serve hundreds of students each day.
Lot 82, Lot 84, Lot 70
- Permits accepted: visit the interactive parking map
- Please note as of 1/23/23, lot 82 is currently under construction. For more information on parking, please contact Transportations & Distribution Services.
ADA parking spaces are available in lot 80. If a student needs accommodations, please reach out to the Disabilities Services Center.
How It Works
Thank you for your interest in visiting our pantries! Please review the updates and guidelines below to help ensure a smooth visit. Below are important General Pantry Etiquette and specific procedures for each respective Pantry model.
General Pantry Etiquette
Students can visit a pantry service once a week.
Once a week, students are able to visit the FRESH Pantry OR Mobile Pantry during the hours of operation that can be found on this page. Hours are subject to change.
If a student has already attended a FRESH Pantry during a given week, they cannot attend a Mobile Pantry in the same week and vice versa.
It is recommended to book an appointment. Walk-ins are available but limited.
To lessen wait time, appointments can also be made on this page. Walk-ins are still available.
If you are no longer able to visit the pantry at your scheduled appointment time, please cancel or reschedule the appointment.
Only the student that made the appointment will be allowed access inside the pantry.
Roommates, spouses, friends, etc. cannot shop on your behalf. This service is only available to current and continuing UCI students.
Kindly, bring a reusable grocery bag for your visit.
Bag items in the respective bagging areas after your shopping is complete.
When shopping at the FRESH Pantry, utilize the bagging tables outside to bag your items. Please return the dollies and carts.
When shopping at the Mobile Pantry, utilize the bagging tables next to the vehicle to bag your items.
Practice mindful shopping.
Please only take what you need for the week and remember that this is a community resource.
How the FRESH Pantry Works
There’s a fixed 15-minutes shopping period.
All pantry visitors have 15 minutes to shop. If you arrive late, your shopping time will decrease. A limited number of students are allowed inside the center per time period.
Each visitor has a limit of one basket, with the exception of parenting students who may request a family dolly.
Students may take as many items as fits into 1 basket or family dolly. Parenting students (students with children 18 or younger) may request a slightly larger family dolly to shop.
How the Mobile Pantry Works
When is the Mobile Food Pantry open?
The Mobile Food Pantry will be in operation the first Friday of each month at a different location on the UCI campus. We are requesting student book an appointment. We still welcome walk-ins!
Shopping procedure and fixed 10-minutes shopping period.
Once you check in at the vehicle, you will select items from a pre-set menu and then shop for produce.
Visitors have 10-minutes to shop.
The Mobile Pantry’s menu consists of:
- Perishables (milk, almond milk, eggs, yogurt, tofu and frozen prepared meals),
- Non-Perishables (bread, pasta, oats, peanut butter, tuna, soup and beans)
- Produce (apples, oranges, lemons, yams, potatoes, onions and carrots).
Help Promote Sustainability!
In an effort to promote sustainability, we will no longer be providing paper bags starting Spring Quarter 2022.
Please bring your own reusable grocery bags for your pantry visit!
If you are experiencing greater need, please email our Basic Needs Coordinator, Anne-Marie Krumrei, at basicneeds@uci.edu to inquire about additional pantry usage and related resources.