Community Resources

CA Meals for Kids Mobile App / Website

Visit the California Department of Education (CDE) website for a list of summer meal service sites. To access the location service sites, you may also use the CA Meals for Kids app on your mobile device. Download instructions can be found here (Apple, Google and Microsoft).

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

Visit the California Department of Education (CDE) website for a list of summer meal service sites. To access the location service sites, you may also use the CA Meals for Kids app on your mobile device. Download instructions can be found here (Apple, Google and Microsoft).

CSUN Food Pantry

The CSUN Food Pantry exists to provide emergency nourishment and basic necessities at no cost to CSUN’s students. The CSUN Food Pantry supplies food and offers food program assistance to those who are without reliable access to affordable, nutritious food. Our goal is to minimize the academic impact on our students by providing the needed essentials. The CSUN Food Pantry is a resource for CSUN students, faculty, and staff to help alleviate food insecurity and hunger within our campus community.

P-EBT Card Form (Available May 22nd)
English: https://ca.p-ebt.org
Español: https://ca.p-ebt.org/es

P-EBT Card Information
English: https://ca.p-ebt.org/en/info
Español: https://ca.p-ebt.org/es/info

P-EBT Card Frequently Asked Questions
English: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/EBT/Pandemic/Information-About-P-EBT.pdf
Español: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/EBT/Pandemic/Information-About-P-EBT-SP.pdf

This is a joint program of the California Departments of Education and Social Services.

Below you will find a list of upcoming community events that provide health and nutrition-based resources: 

To search for a licensed childcare facility in your area, visit the California Department of Social Services Licensed Child Care Facilities

Allows parents to choose a specific category of childcare center (school-age, infant, accepts ill children, family child home care) in your area.
Visit: https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/programs.html

Provides a list of eight childcare centers that offer financial assistance to those in need within LA County. Serves infants and toddlers up to age five.
Visit: www.cdcla.org

Provides a list of childcare programs, which includes Head Start and Early Head Start for children age 0-5, as well as other child development programs throughout LA County. Also offers financial assistance to those who qualify. The CCRC site has a family resource directory (found under the Parents tab) that provides links to several services including housing, immigration, safety, emergency food and clothing and many others.
Visit: www.ccrcla.org

These are federally funded programs that assist schools and other organizations in the U.S. to provide children with nutritious breakfast and lunch at affordable prices. The program must be available to all students, and based on family size and household income, students may qualify for free, reduced, or full price breakfast. If a child qualifies for one of these programs, they will qualify for the other. More information on school nutrition programs is available at:
NSBP – www.cde.ca.gov
NSLP – www.cde.ca.gov

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is a federally funded health and nutrition program that assists families by providing nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and services, health and community referrals, and supplemental checks for the purchase of nutritious foods. Eligibility is based on household size and income; women who are pregnant or breastfeeding as well as infants through children up to five years old qualify as participants of the WIC program. More information can be found at:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov 

The WIC Program also has a youtube channel with great tips and information about healthy nutrition and recipes as well. For WIC's Youtube Channel click here.

Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC) WIC Program services the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. Click here for their website:

www.nevhc.org

To search for a local WIC office in your area, click here: https://m.wic.ca.gov/Clinics/ClinicSearch.aspx

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is also known as the CalFresh Program in California. This is an income-based program that offers monthly electronic benefits to qualified households to allow them to purchase food and other necessities in order to help meet nutritional needs. More information on CalFresh, including eligibility requirements, can be found at:
www.calfresh.ca.gov/

Champions for Change is now CalFresh Living Healthy Living For more information on our CalFresh program, visit https://www.csun.edu/marilyn-magaram-center/calfresh-healthy-living

• CalFresh at CSUN
• Eat Healthy - Champions for Change

The Summer Food Service Program provides low-income children up to the age of 18 with nutritious meals throughout the summer when school is not in session. For more information on SFSP and to locate approved sites in your area, visit:
www.fns.usda.gov

Farmers’ Markets are public food markets where local farmers sell fresh fruits and vegetables (either conventionally or organically grown), and often meat, cheese, and baked goods directly to consumers. Certified Farmers’ Markets (CFMs) are certified by the state that the farmers are in fact growing the crops that they sell to the public. There are several year-round farmers’ markets throughout LA County, all of which offer a variety of in-season produce. They also offer specialty items like rare spices and herbs, honey, and cheeses. There are often activities for children as well as adults, and several vendors with prepared foods if you get hungry while shopping. The farmers’ market allows you to sample foods before you buy them and get to know the farmers that are growing and producing the food you eat. This makes shopping fun and expands your knowledge of different foods that are available throughout the year. Shopping at the farmers’ market is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you are selecting seasonal fruits and vegetables, an important step in building a healthy diet.

For a list of local farmers’ markets and shopping tips, visit the California Certified Farmers’ Market website at:
www.cafarmersmarkets.com

Farmers’ markets are not practical for everyone. Some people have time constraints that prevent them from attending a weekly market. Luckily there are some alternatives available. One option is CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, a subscription based pledge of support for your local farm.  In exchange for monetary dues, you receive a box of seasonal produce each week or on an agreed schedule. The biggest convenience of joining a CSA is that the times arranged for delivery or pick up are much more flexible than the weekly market. There are CSAs for vegetables, as well as meat and dairy.

To find a CSA program near you, visit: www.localharvest.org

“MYPLATE! The New Food Guide Musical Program” is a creative nutrition education/physical fitness initiative promoting not only healthful eating habits, but also physical activity as an important component of a healthy lifestyle. This education initiative has as its purpose the prevention of childhood obesity and reduction of the long- term risks for chronic disease. For additional information on the program, visit www.butleroff.com  

With the goal of building a culturally diverse community that is appreciative, sensitive and understanding, DIG LA emphasizes the artistic expressions, traditions and historical significance of various cultures. The group activities planned by DIG LA provide an opportunity for students and faculty to discuss cultural issues in a safe and open environment, encouraging a link between classroom learning and to our culturally diverse environment. Through various educational programs, students gain insightful knowledge of cultural groups, actively participate in thought provoking discussions, become aware of and sensitive to different communities and their traditions, and enjoy a new learning experience.

Visit: https://www.csun.edu/osid/dig-la

Valley Care Community Consortium leads a collaboration of public and private community partners to advocate, plan, assess needs and facilitate development of effective programs and policies to improve the health of the residents in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.

Visit: http://valleyccc.org/

You will find valuable information that will connect you to various resources regarding the basic needs of students in the CSUN campus community. All students in the CSUN community are encouraged to explore the following resources and benefit from them. This website is a component of the CSU Basic Needs Initiative, which is to strengthen the welfare of all students inside and outside the classroom.   

Visit: https://www.csun.edu/heart

The CSUN Food Pantry exists to provide emergency nourishment and basic necessities at no cost to CSUN’s students. The CSUN Food Pantry supplies food and offers food program assistance to those who are without reliable access to affordable, nutritious food. Our goal is to minimize the academic impact on our students by providing the needed essentials. The CSUN Food Pantry is a resource for CSUN students, faculty, and staff to help alleviate food insecurity and hunger within our campus community.

Visit: https://www.csun.edu/mic/foodpantry