Hi everyone,
This week's workshop was about food security, specifically how to get additional resources to have food supply. The Fresh Hub on campus (located behind Mesa Court along Campus Dr.) provides students with a full pantry and emergency toiletries. Also accessible to students are study spaces, a wellness corner, and a kitchenette available to everyone. The main programs provided by the Fresh Hub are the Zot Out Hunger Program (ZOH) and CalFRESH.
Zot Out Hunger is a program designed for students with meal plans to donate extra guest swipes into another program for emergency food swipes. Students willing to donate fill out donation forms and waivers, and must be enrolled UCI students. Those who wish to request food/meal swipes must be enrolled UCI students, provide evidence of having a lack of food regularly available, and indicate a lack of food resources.
CalFRESH is a USDA sponsored program for students granting them a "credit" card to use for groceries. This card is monthly recharged with up to a maximum of $192.00 (each case varies therefore the monthly recharge varies); the money left used unused for the month does rollover into the next month and the card may be used in most grocery stores and farmers' markets. To apply, go to the Fresh Hub site (basicneeds.uci.edu) and click on CalFRESH Application Assistance; an appointment can be made on campus at the Fresh Hub where a representative of the Fresh Hub will help with the application step by step. Documents required may vary, but generally documentation of your financial aid summary, rent expenses, valid ID, and social security number.
The rest of the application process may be completed online and a semi-annual report every six months will be necessary for continued use of the benefits, which may also be completed online.
This week's workshop was about food security, specifically how to get additional resources to have food supply. The Fresh Hub on campus (located behind Mesa Court along Campus Dr.) provides students with a full pantry and emergency toiletries. Also accessible to students are study spaces, a wellness corner, and a kitchenette available to everyone. The main programs provided by the Fresh Hub are the Zot Out Hunger Program (ZOH) and CalFRESH.
Zot Out Hunger is a program designed for students with meal plans to donate extra guest swipes into another program for emergency food swipes. Students willing to donate fill out donation forms and waivers, and must be enrolled UCI students. Those who wish to request food/meal swipes must be enrolled UCI students, provide evidence of having a lack of food regularly available, and indicate a lack of food resources.
CalFRESH is a USDA sponsored program for students granting them a "credit" card to use for groceries. This card is monthly recharged with up to a maximum of $192.00 (each case varies therefore the monthly recharge varies); the money left used unused for the month does rollover into the next month and the card may be used in most grocery stores and farmers' markets. To apply, go to the Fresh Hub site (basicneeds.uci.edu) and click on CalFRESH Application Assistance; an appointment can be made on campus at the Fresh Hub where a representative of the Fresh Hub will help with the application step by step. Documents required may vary, but generally documentation of your financial aid summary, rent expenses, valid ID, and social security number.
The rest of the application process may be completed online and a semi-annual report every six months will be necessary for continued use of the benefits, which may also be completed online.