Overall Rating Platinum
Overall Score 88.80
Liaison Richard Demerjian
Submission Date Aug. 11, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of California, Irvine
IN-14: Food Bank

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 0.50 Carrie Metzgar
Sustainability and Planning Analyst
Campus Physical and Environmental Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution host a food bank, pantry, or equivalent resource focused on alleviating food insecurity, hunger and poverty among students?:
Yes

A brief description of the food bank, pantry, or equivalent resource:

In September 2017, UCI launched the FRESH Basic Needs Hub, a student-initiated effort that promotes equitable access to basic needs through student empowerment, community collaboration, and institutional integration. FRESH, which stands for Food Resources Empowering Students with Hope, aims to alleviate food insecurity and poverty among students by offering emergency food and toiletries, connecting students to critical on and off-campus resources, and providing educational opportunities for students to take personal responsibility for their wellness and the well-being of their communities.

FRESH programs and initiatives include:
- Weekly food pantry distribution
- CalFresh application assistance
- Farm-to-FRESH vouchers (for use at the local produce stand)
- Emergency meal swipe program
- Clinical social worker consultations
- Non-perishable and perishable food donations
- Volunteer opportunities


Website URL where information about the food bank is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The FRESH Basic Needs Hub was featured in the UC Annual Report to the Regents, recognizing its innovation and resiliency during the pandemic. Read the article “FRESH Basic Needs Hub Creates Innovative Food and Housing Security Solutions During the Pandemic:” https://sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu/2020/10/fresh-basic-needs-hub-creates-innovative-food-and-housing-security-solutions-during-the-pandemic/


The FRESH Basic Needs Hub was featured in the UC Annual Report to the Regents, recognizing its innovation and resiliency during the pandemic. Read the article “FRESH Basic Needs Hub Creates Innovative Food and Housing Security Solutions During the Pandemic:” https://sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu/2020/10/fresh-basic-needs-hub-creates-innovative-food-and-housing-security-solutions-during-the-pandemic/

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