WELCOME TO FRESH HUB! 

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.

Our pantry has modified services during Summer 2021. Students experiencing a food security emergency may sign up to book an appointment our weekly pantry outdoor distribution. 

Our new hours of operation to pick up emergency food and toiletry is 10am-2pm on Wednesdays every week for July 2021. The appointment link page will be available at least 5 days prior to the upcoming distribution, usually on Fridays. 

**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:

July Pantry Distribution Dates:
Please Note: Parking permits are required as of 7/1.

• Wednesday, July 7th, 10am-2pm (By appointment)
• Wednesday, July 14th, 10am-2pm (By appointment)
• Wednesday, July 21st, 10am-2pm (By appointment)
• Wednesday, July 28th, 10am-2pm (By appointment)

Our Wednesday 10am-2pm pantry distribution schedule is effective through the end of July 2021. Late Summer hours will be announced in July. Pantry link will be updated the Friday prior to the distribution day.

Before Arrival:

1. Please book an appointment to secure your appointment.
2. Submit your Summer 2021 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. Parking permits will be required starting July 1st.

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 $204 per month to purchase groceries. FRESH offers 1-1 CalFresh application assistance appointments in-person or via Zoom.

Farm-to-FRESH vouchers help supplement FRESH's pantry distributions with additional access to fruits and vegetables. Pantry visitors who are still experiencing food insecurity can apply to receive a quarterly allocation of vouchers to use at the Tanaka Farms Produce Market Stand.

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.

Confidential in-person or Zoom appointments with our clinical social worker to provide support and guidance to students experiencing financial stress and/or food/housing insecurity.

The Economic Crisis Response Grant is a 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 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.

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 outdoor food distributions every Wednesday. 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.