The FRESH Basic Needs Hub is a student-initiated effort 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.

Our pantry has modified services during Covid-19. Students experiencing a food security emergency may sign up to book an appointment for pantry distribution. 

Our new hours of operation to pick up emergency food and toiletry is 11am-3pm on Wednesdays every week for April 2021.The sign up page will be available at least 5 days prior to the upcoming distribution, usually on Thursdays. 

**Please note that these dates and hours below are subject to change at any point in the future.** Please read below so you can be ready before arrival:

April Pantry Distribution Dates:

• Wednesday, April 7
• Wednesday, April 14
• Wednesday, April 21
• Wednesday, April 28

Before Arrival:

1. Please book an appointment to secure your appointment.
2. Submit your FRESH Hub Membership Registration Form.
3. Complete your Daily Symptom Check and be ready to show your ZotPass at the Registration table.
4. Come to FRESH at your timeslot on the scheduled distribution date AND bring your own bags! (If you are running late, please make sure to arrive before the end of the distribution time).
5. You don't currently need a parking permit to park in Lot 5

Book an appointment

CalFresh (also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) is a nutrition assistance program that helps people purchase healthy foods. The program issues monthly electronic benefits on an EBT card that can be used at most grocery stores and farmers markets. Students can receive anywhere between $16-$204 per month to purchase groceries. FRESH is offering application assistance via Zoom conferencing software during COVID-19.

Book Appointment

Eligibility

In collaboration with Tanaka Farms, our new program helps increase access to fruits and vegetables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this program, our pantry visitors can get additional food support and receive a weekly $30 voucher to use at the Tanaka Farms Drive-Through Produce Market Stand.

The Emergency Meal Swipe Program (EMSP) helps students who are experiencing food insecurity and/or a student-related emergency, access several healthy and well-balanced meals offered at UCI's Dining Commons.

FRESH Social Worker Consultations are confidential Zoom appointments with our basic needs clinical social worker to provide support and guidance to students experiencing financial stress, food/housing insecurity, and other stressors or complex needs.

The Economic Crisis Response Grant is a case-specific, university intervention to be utilized to address a student's financial crisis. A student under consideration for the Economic Crisis Response (ECR) grant must: Be a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at the 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.

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.

Food

 

Money

Due to COVID-19, we have reduced our pantry distributions to observe exposure to our students and staff. We now hold food box distributions every week. We have limited volunteer opportunities during these distributions. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Janine Algabre at jalgabre@uci.edu so you may receive timely volunteer updates.