TO HELP ITS STUDENTS. FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA SCHOOL CAMPUSES ARE TRYING TO STAY STOCKED UP. WE GOT A LOT OF PANTRY STAPLES HERE AS CALFRESH BENEFITS ARE DISRUPTED FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. I THINK WE HAVE LIKE AT LEAST 2 OR 3 DINNERS A WEEK THAT WE COME HERE AND WE JUST FIND SOMETHING AND PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. OVER THE LAST WEEK, UC DAVIS AND THE YOLO FOOD BANK HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION, PLANNING DISTRIBUTIONS TO STUDENTS FACING FOOD INSECURITY. THEY’RE INCREASING THE LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT THAT WE CAN PURCHASE. AND THEN THEY’RE ALSO DOING STARTING ON THE OR NEXT MONTH. THEY’RE GOING TO DO WEEKLY DROPS OF 10,000 POUNDS OF FOOD AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT CAMPUS. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. IN YOLO COUNTY, THERE ARE ABOUT 6000 STUDENTS WHO RELY ON CALFRESH BENEFITS. A GOOD CHUNK OF THOSE ARE BELIEVED TO BE STUDENTS AT UC DAVIS. I’M LOW INCOME AND I’M ALSO LIVING OFF CAMPUS, SO IT’S NOT LIKE I HAVE LIKE A DINING PLAN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO I COME HERE AND ANYTIME I’M LIKE IN NEED OF LIKE JUST EVEN ONE FRUIT OR SOMETHING, THEN IT’S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND HAVE THOSE RESOURCES GOING FOR SOME PERSIMMONS. FOR MANY, THE ASUCD FOOD PANTRY HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL AS THEY NAVIGATE SCHOOL. IT’S MY FIRST TIME LIVING ALONE AND SHOPPING FOR MYSELF, AND I FOUND THAT IT’S WAY MORE EXPENSIVE TO BE LIVING. SO I’M WORKING TWO JOBS RIGHT NOW TRYING TO MAKE IT ALL WORK. BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LIFESAVER FOR ME. IN THE MEANTIME, THE INDEFINITE DELAY IS LEAVING THOSE IN CHARGE OF CAMPUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WONDERING IF THEY’LL BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE DEMAND. THERE’S SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO JUST GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIVES. THE EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION WILL BE HOSTED ON CAMPUS ON NOVEMBER 8TH AND 15TH, FROM NINE TO NOON AT UC DAVIS MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. UC DAVIS ALSO OFFERS TEN ADDITIONAL FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS CAMPUS. THE AGGIES EATS FOOD TRUCK ALSO OFFERS PREP MEALS AT LITT
California college students brace for loss of CalFresh benefits. How UC Davis food pantry is supporting them
Updated: 7:08 PM PDT Oct 30, 2025
Food pantries across California school campuses are working to stay stocked as CalFresh benefits are disrupted for more than 334,000 higher education students.In Yolo County, about 6,000 students rely on CalFresh benefits, with a significant portion believed to be students at UC Davis. “I think we have at least two dinners or three dinners a week that we come here and we just find something and put something together,” said Ezra Chavon, a second-year UC Davis student who frequents the ASUCD Food Pantry weekly.Over the last week, UC Davis and the Yolo Food Bank have been in constant communication, planning distributions to students facing food insecurity.”They’re increasing the limits on the amount that we can purchase, and then, they’re also starting next month, they’re going to do weekly drops of 10,000 lbs of food at different locations throughout campus, and this is one of them,” said Conner Daniels, food program supervisor at the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center.For many, the ASUCD food pantry has been essential as they navigate school.”I’m low-income and I’m also living off campus, so it’s not like I have a dining plan or anything like that, so I come here anytime I need even one fruit or something. It’s really nice to be able to come here and have those resources,” said Carrie-Anne Perez, who visits the food pantry.”This is my first time living alone and shopping for myself, and I found out that it’s way more expensive to be living, so I’m working two jobs right now, trying to make it all work, but this has been a lifesaver for me 100%,” Chavron added.Meanwhile, the indefinite delay is leaving those in charge of campus food assistance programs wondering if they can handle the demand. At least 40% of all CalFresh recipients in the county also receive aid from other resources.”There’s such a large number of students who don’t have the resources that they need to just go about their daily lives,” Daniels said.Emergency food distributions at UC Davis will take place on Nov. 8 and 15 from 9 a.m. to noon.Among other resources UC Davis offers are 10 additional food pantries across campus, the AggieFresh program, and the Aggie Eats food truck, which offers prepped meals at little to no cost for students facing food insecurity.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
DAVIS, Calif. —
Food pantries across California school campuses are working to stay stocked as CalFresh benefits are disrupted for more than 334,000 higher education students.
In Yolo County, about 6,000 students rely on CalFresh benefits, with a significant portion believed to be students at UC Davis.
“I think we have at least two dinners or three dinners a week that we come here and we just find something and put something together,” said Ezra Chavon, a second-year UC Davis student who frequents the ASUCD Food Pantry weekly.
Over the last week, UC Davis and the Yolo Food Bank have been in constant communication, planning distributions to students facing food insecurity.
“They’re [Yolo Food Bank] increasing the limits on the amount that we can purchase, and then, they’re also starting next month, they’re going to do weekly drops of 10,000 lbs of food at different locations throughout campus, and this is one of them,” said Conner Daniels, food program supervisor at the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center.
For many, the ASUCD food pantry has been essential as they navigate school.
“I’m low-income and I’m also living off campus, so it’s not like I have a dining plan or anything like that, so I come here anytime I need even one fruit or something. It’s really nice to be able to come here and have those resources,” said Carrie-Anne Perez, who visits the food pantry.
“This is my first time living alone and shopping for myself, and I found out that it’s way more expensive to be living, so I’m working two jobs right now, trying to make it all work, but this has been a lifesaver for me 100%,” Chavron added.
Meanwhile, the indefinite delay is leaving those in charge of campus food assistance programs wondering if they can handle the demand. At least 40% of all CalFresh recipients in the county also receive aid from other resources.
“There’s such a large number of students who don’t have the resources that they need to just go about their daily lives,” Daniels said.
Emergency food distributions at UC Davis will take place on Nov. 8 and 15 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Among other resources UC Davis offers are 10 additional food pantries across campus, the AggieFresh program, and the Aggie Eats food truck, which offers prepped meals at little to no cost for students facing food insecurity.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel