Resource Highlight: UC Berkeley Food Pantry
Food insecurity is one of the biggest challenges faced by college students. At Berkeley, it is estimated that 39% of undergraduates and 23% of graduate students experience food insecurity. The lack of access to grocery stores within a reasonable distance from the UC Berkeley campus makes a student’s ability to locate healthy foods on a regular basis difficult.
The UC Berkeley Food Pantry is an emergency relief program that is designed to meet the short-term food security needs of the UC Berkeley community, which includes all UC Berkeley students, staff, visiting scholars, student researchers, postdocs, and faculty. Visitors are welcome to visit the pantry up to once per week and are welcome to take what they need while keeping in mind that it is a shared resource. They provide pantry staples such as rice, canned goods, pasta, beans, and cereal. They also provide fresh produce, bread, milk, and eggs. They partner with local grocery stores and Cal Dining to receive donations that are then distributed to the community. You can read more about the food pantry and find more details about visiting them here.
Students can visit the pantry on an as-needed basis up to once a week. In order to visit the pantry, students must join a virtual line. This makes it possible for people to line up for the pantry without physically having to be there. The virtual line opens at the start of each pantry hour and will remain open until the pantry closes or the line becomes full. You can join the virtual line here. Once you join the virtual line, you will receive a text message with your estimated wait time which will vary depending on how many people signed up before you. If you need more time than your estimated wait time, the system will allow you to request that you be pushed back in the line. Once you receive a text stating that you have reached the front of the line, make your way to the desk located on the 1st floor of MLK by the bNorth entrance. They will ask to scan your student ID and send you downstairs to the pantry.
Pantry hours vary by semester and sometimes change around school breaks, finals, and RRR week. In order to find the most up-to-date information regarding the hours, I suggest checking the website. The pantry also requires students to bring their own grocery bags during their visit. If you have any questions, pantry staff will be more than happy to help you!
