UCLA Store furthers food accessibility on campus as third storefront begins to accept CalFresh for food, groceries

The LuValle Commons Store is the third UCLA Store location to begin accepting the federal food assistance benefits for redemption of food and groceries.

Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 – Just over a month after CalFresh acceptance launched at the UCLA Store’s Health Sciences Store location, the invaluable service is now live at the LuValle Commons Store.

CalFresh, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is run by the California Department of Social Services to support low-income individuals with monthly benefits up to $291 for fresh food and groceries.

The UCLA Store in Ackerman Union was the first location on the UCLA campus to accept EBT for eligible food transactions in August 2022, followed by the Health Sciences Store in December 2023. Since the initial launch, there have been nearly 60,000 EBT transactions collectively, proving the need for this vital service at UCLA.  The UCLA Store is a student-run enterprise of Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA).

“As ASUCLA continues to push forward with this momentum of launching CalFresh at all UCLA Store locations, we are proud to set the standard for higher education institutions across the country to continue supporting the wellbeing of students with further accessibility to sustenance on campuses,” said Peter Poon, UCLA Store director.

Campus groups who led the initial launch of EBT at the UCLA Store include the CalFresh Initiative under the UCLA Community Programs Office, 580 Café, Economic Crisis Response Team, UCLA Basic needs Committee, The Green Initiative Fund, Semel HCI Center, UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services and UCLA Campus Life.

In addition to the CalFresh service, ASUCLA Restaurants accept meal swipes at all locations, furthering food accessibility among Bruins on campus. For further information about the latest UCLA Store promotions and announcements, follow @uclastore on Instagram.  

# # #

About ASUCLA:

Founded in 1919, Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA) is a nonprofit association that drives vitally essential student services and activities throughout the UCLA campus. ASUCLA boasts the largest college store in the U.S., an extensive food program, UCLA® brand licensing programming through UCLA Trademarks & Licensing, and other services and programs that include student government and student media, which significantly enhances the quality of UCLA’s campus life. For more information and to stay connected, follow @asucla on Instagram or visit asucla.ucla.edu.