UCSC Food for All

10/13/2026

Just found out you’re not eligible for CalFresh? 💔 No worries, you still have many on- and off-campus resources that can help you achieve your nutritional needs! 💫🥪

In case you do not qualify for CalFresh or think the program is not right for you, UCSC students can connect with these food support 🍎 services for FREE or at LOW COSTS 💸:

👩‍🌾 Santa Cruz Farmers Markets: These are located on particular days throughout Santa Cruz County. You can find a community market downtown, at Felton, at Live Oak, at Scott’s Valley, or Westside depending on the day and time. Visit their website (provided above) to see times for each location. They also accept EBT/CalFresh.

🥕Second Harvest Food Bank: Enter 95050 or 95064 as your zip code on their website’s food locator page to find a list of local pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens near you that offer FREE food to those on need.

🎗️United Way 211: They connect you to expert, caring help in the Bay, including providing food support. Visit their website for contact info, or call them at 211.

🍼WIC provides nutritional foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and social services to women and children. Income limits may apply.

🏫On-campus support, resources you’re hopefully already familiar with 🤞, include Redwood Free Market Cowell Coffee Shop UCSC Produce Pop-Up Terry Freitas Commons UCSC Ethnic Resource Centers and Lionel Cantú Q***r Resource Center . You can see their full list 📋 of services and open hours ⏰ on their respective accounts.

If you still require assistance 😥 with accessing food, contact Slug Support 🐌 by filling out their intake form 📝 through our Linktree. If this is an emergency situation, contact the ☎️ Basic Needs Crisis Line at (831)459-7003 Mon-Fri from 11AM-5PM. If you or someone else is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact ⛑️ CAPS at (831)459-2628 (available 24/7, press option 3 after calling).

🚨If there is an immediate concern for your safety or the safety of others, call 911.

You Belong Here: These opportunities are open to all. To learn more, visit the UCSC ‘You Belong Here’ webpage through the link in our bio.

10/06/2026

IMPORTANT‼️ Students can now get direct SUPPORT without making an appointment through ✨SLUG SUPPORT’S DROP-IN HOURS✨ at the CANTÙ Q***R CENTER. Visit the center (located behind the Merrill and Crown 🌳Colleges) to connect with Slug Support Case Manager Kayla Adem, and have your queries met with solutions! 🚀

Drop-In Dates & Times 📅
🍟 Friday, 10/09 | 10 AM - 12 PM
🍟 Friday, 11/06 | 10 - 11:30 AM
🍟 Friday, 11/20 | 10 - 11:30 AM

With Kayla, you can cover 🔎 any and all support areas, including but not limited to:
- navigating the UC system ⚙️
- housing issues 🏡
- food insecurity 🍎
- financial hardship and holds 💵

As a reminder, students do not need to schedule an appointment. Feel free to walk 🚶‍♀️in and we’ll see you this Friday!

You Belong Here: This is a welcoming space to connect with a case manager and get practical support, open to all. To learn more, visit the DSAS ‘You Belong Here’ webpage through our Linktree.

09/29/2026

09/23/2026

🐌 BANANA SLUGS Basic Needs is here for fall! 🍂 Above you will find the location 📍, hours ⏰, and general info for all our food programs, including Redwood Free Market, Cowell Coffee Shop, and Produce Pop-Up. Additionally, we have provided their opening days 📅 below.

🌲 Redwood Free Market: Monday, 10/05
☕️ Cowell Coffee Shop: Thursday, 10/01
🥬 Produce Pop-Up: Friday, 10/02
📚 Terry Freitas Cafe: ALREADY OPEN
⛰️ Ethnic Resource Center’s Pantry: TBD
🌈 Cantu Q***r Center’s Pantries: ALREADY OPEN

We look forward to welcoming you as you make your way through the complexities of college life. Come in to any of our sites whenever you want! 💙💛

You Belong Here: These opportunities are open to all. To learn more, visit the DSAS ‘You Belong Here’ webpage through our Linktree.

09/17/2026

🐌 Welcome to UCSC, new slugs and welcome back, returning students! The Slug Support program offers:

🏡 Housing Support
🍎 Food Access
📚Campus Resources Support

We’re here to help you navigate 🔎 basic needs and campus resources. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Contact Slug Support by filling out the 📝 intake form in our bio. For more information on their services, visit the UCSC Slug Support webpage.

You Belong Here: This opportunity is open to all. To learn more, visit the DSAS ‘You Belong Here’ webpage through the link in our bio.

09/16/2026

Grab your ticket 🎟️ UCSC Basic Needs will be tabling at Cornucopia 2026! 🙌

We encourage new and returning slugs 🐌 to visit us and learn about student resources 🔎, including but not limited to food hubs like Cowell Coffee Shop ☕️and Redwood Free Market 🍊.

If you 🧚 or a friend 🧚‍♀️are a student that needs support with

🍎 Access to Food
🏡 Housing Security
🌿 Health and Wellness
🚙 Affordable Transportation
💵 Finances

we are here to help! Come stop by our table, say hello 👋 , and get to know all that Basic Needs covers as assistance! And enjoy a free cup of lemonade! 🍋

🍁 Cornucopia Details
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Time: 3-6 PM
Location: East Field, UCSC

07/30/2026

🍳 Do you care about your fellow students’ food security? 🧐💭 If so, RFM WANTS YOU! 🫵 4 job openings are currently available on Handshake:

🥘 Kitchen Assistant 11236640
🍯 Pantry Assistant 11236600
🛻 Food Recovery Assistant 11236631
🪴 CalFresh Advisor 11236617

🗓️ We invite you to apply on Handshake by August 14, 2026 to be considered. The full job description is given there as well as the link to the required supplication application form 📝. Good luck on your apps! 💫

You Belong Here: This opportunity is open to all. To learn more, visit the DSAS ‘You Belong Here’ webpage through the link in our bio.

06/10/2026

🎬 BASIC NEEDS 25-26 RECAP

05/14/2026

If passed, 8% of the money 💵 generated from Measure 88 will go towards supporting UCSC CalFresh Outreach Operations 🐮 so that more students who are eligible to receive CalFresh benefits can apply for and receive support with the help of our wonderful CalFresh student managers throughout the entire application process. By voting YES for the measure, you’ll be supporting the expansion basic food access 🍏 to ALL students!

VOTE YES ON 88!!!

05/14/2026

WE CAN DO IT!!! LETS GET TO 25%!!!!
TELL A FRIEND, SHARE OUR POSTS AND GET OUT THE VOTE!!!! BASIC NEEDS IS ON THE BALLOT, HELP US HELP YOU!!!! ALMOST HALFWAY TO QUORUM!!!

elections.ucsc.edu