Fill Our Pantries: Nourish Student Success
Fill Our Pantries: Nourish Student Success
At the UC Irvine Basic Needs Center, we believe no student should have to decide between their hunger and affording their education. Our team is committed to continuously improving equitable access to essential resources for students to enhance and support their well-being—which includes access to nutritious food. For the past 10 years, the food pantry has been an evolving pillar supporting widespread food access across campus. We provide thousands of students with essential nourishment and resources to sustain their success.
Student staff stocking the pantry fridge.
Our Goal
The ever-growing nature of the center reflects the increased need for food access throughout our campus. As shifting economic realities continue to shape the student experience, the challenge to secure essentials such as food and financial stability persists.
With the recent federal government shutdown and expected delays of CalFresh (SNAP) benefits in early November 2025, students are facing additional uncertainty about how they will afford groceries and essential supplies in the weeks ahead. For those already navigating tight budgets, even a brief disruption in benefits can mean skipping meals and compromising their wellbeing to sustain other areas of living such as rent.
This holiday season, we aim to raise $15,000 to supplement our food pantry and its operations. Your support will help us sustain and expand this lifeline for all students across campus, especially when unprecedented circumstances arise now and in the future.
Your gift directly helps us:
- Keep shelves stocked with fresh produce, pantry staples, and toiletries.
- Extend pantry hours, so more students can access food support on campus.
- Expand our reach through Mobile Food Pantry distributions.
- Offer emergency food and resource support for students experiencing sudden disruptions in benefits.
- Build long-term food security, including improved operations and infrastructure to strengthen basic needs security on-campus.
Students shopping for produce at a Mobile Pantry distribution.
Why Your Support Matters
By contributing to this campaign, you’re helping us build a stronger foundation for student success and ensuring food security remains within reach for all.
Together, we can keep this mission in motion. Join us in driving food security forward today!
Learn more about the UC Irvine Basic Needs Center and our story at basicneeds.uci.edu/pantry-anniversary.
$25
Foundation of Care
Give our operations a boost! Stock our shelves with pantry staples like canned goods, rice, and beans.
$50
A FRESH Boost
Help us bring fresh produce and nutritious options to our shelves, ensuring students have access to healthy foods.
$100
Community Care
Help expand pantry operations and hours, creating more opportunities for students to access support.
$250
The Safety Net
Strengthen our campus safety net, funding emergency food assistance to sustain student wellbeing.
$500
Move Our Mission
Lead the way to fuel food security! Your generosity enables us to expand and sustain pantry operations for long-term food access and impact.
$1,000
Championing Food Access
Drive forward opportunity, dignity, and food security across our entire campus community! Your gift ensures that even in times of crisis, no student goes hungry.
