Amidst the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, federally funded programs have faced major losses in funding.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been heavily impacted, with 42 million Americans losing their food stamp benefits. An estimated 5 million Californians rely on SNAP to put food on the table.
As SNAP cuts happen, Stan State offers several resources to support enrolled students in meeting their basic needs.
Isabella Cisneros (Liberal Studies, Senior) shared her thoughts on the SNAP cuts.
“Personally, I have not been affected by the cuts to SNAP benefits, but I’ve heard that there are people who are struggling because of it, especially single moms. Stanislaus State does a good job of letting students know there are resources available through social media,” Cisneros said.
The Warrior Food Pantry provides perishable and non-perishable food items to currently enrolled students, as well as toiletries, baby food and diapers. Students may take home up to 10 items per week. The Warrior Food Pantry on the Turlock campus operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It is located in room 128 of the Student Services Building. The Stockton campus pantry is open Monday through Friday, with the hours varying daily. Both locations offer appointments for students unable to visit during regular hours. For details on scheduling appointments or walk-in availability, visit the Warrior Food Pantry webpage.
Jessica Martinez (Psychology, Senior) shared her experience with the Warrior Food Pantry.
“I like that the Warrior Food Pantry has a variety of food and snacks. Another thing I find helpful about the Warrior Food Pantry is that they provide hygiene products such as soap and laundry care. In my experience, I have gotten a lot of help from Basic Needs on this campus. I feel that Stanislaus State offers great resources for their students,” Martinez said.
The Food Distribution System (FDS) is another resource for students experiencing food insecurity. Students can collect a box of food after presenting their Warrior ID and completing a short form. The FDS operates twice a month on the Turlock campus from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at University Circle. Upcoming distribution dates for the Fall 2025 semester are November 20th and December 10th.
Heather Pearson Villeda (Director of Basic Needs) said, “There’s a lot of ways that we in this department get to work with students and support their overall success. There is a lot of possibility for impact, which makes the job gratifying. We have a small team that is very dedicated and is responsible for trying to make a lot of things happen. I appreciate their support and consistent effort.”
Stan State will host several activities for National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week from November 17-21. On Wednesday, November 19th, there will be a Campus Cares Fair in the Turlock Quad from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., where students can learn about various campus resources.
A pop-up pantry will be held outside Demegrasso- Bava Hall from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on November 21st. The first 50 warriors who show up receive a free bag of food.
Villeda added, “We are here for all Stanislaus State students. We have a number of different resources that we’re connected with to help work with students. The first thing to do is to stop by and talk with us. The Warrior Food Pantry is our most heavily used resource, but we still encounter students that don’t know it’s available to them. Students can visit us in the Student Services Building or visit our team at the Stockton campus.”
Students interested in helping support individuals can join the Hunger Network Club, whose mission is to support people facing food insecurity while fostering a strong sense of community and personal growth among its members.
Maggie Devins (Geography, Senior), secretary of the Hunger Network, talked about the goal to start a food distribution project.
“We wanted to start a food distribution project also working with the Warrior Food Pantry they don’t have a lot of fresh produce,” Devins said.
Jasmin Navarro (Psychology, Senior), the President of Hunger Network, added, “Especially with the political climate, SNAP benefits are issues in our time, we’re hoping to just be part of the grassroots movement, coming together.” Navarro said. “We saw a need for a community garden on campus, food drives, recipes attached to fresh produce to empower people to grab those things.”
The Hunger Network Club meetings are held on campus at the library (L-209) every 1st and 3rd Monday from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and every third Thursday from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. The Hunger Network Club is volunteering at the Turlock Community Gardens on November 22 at 9 a.m.
Emergency Grants are also available to students experiencing crises or emergency situations. These grants are not loans and do not need to be repaid. Typically, emergency grants can provide up to $1,000 in assistance, depending on the circumstances. Students must be prepared to verify their need for financial assistance. Those interested can apply through the Emergency Grant application.
Stan State also offers a Temporary Housing Program for students who are displaced or experiencing housing insecurity. The program provides temporary on-campus housing or
off-campus accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Students can submit a temporary housing request here.