UCI Giving Day 2023

The UCI Basic Needs Center supports student’s financial stability by ensuring equitable access to basic needs through student empowerment, community collaboration and institutional integration. Our aim is to shift cultural consciousness towards understanding the fulfillment of basic needs – which include food and housing security – as a guaranteed right for every person. We understand that meeting the basic needs of our students greatly impacts their mental and physical health, academic performance, work productivity, and holistic success.

One of our signature services is the FRESH Pantry which provides emergency food and toiletries to UCI students facing food insecurity. Your monetary contributions will help stock our pantry shelves with nutrient-dense food varieties!

Student Testimonies:

• "This gives me motivation to push forward not only in my studies at UCI, but in life...This helps me out so much and I do not go [hungry]..Thank you FRESH Hub Staff for taking care of us."
• "I am an independent returning student who has faced homelessness. Since the beginning of my attendance at UCI, I began attending FRESH and I am so grateful for this program’s services. I no longer have to worry about what I will eat each week."
• "The FRESH Hub has been very beneficial to me in terms of food security & community development. I feel safe coming here and reaching out to the staff about any food security concerns. The expansion of this service has helped many students & has a lot of potential to help even more."
• "Because of FRESH [Pantry], I have been able to eat more meals and vegetables, without it, all I would be able to afford would be ramen noodles. I spend less time worrying about what I’m going to eat tomorrow and use that time to study."

This Giving Day 2023, we are confident that you can help us achieve our mission of making UCI a basic needs-secure campus. #UCFoodForAll!

For more information on our resources and services, please refer to our website at www.basicneeds.uci.edu or Instagram @ucifresh.

Thank you for your generous support!