Food Security

The CSUN Food Pantry exists to provide emergency nourishment and basic necessities at no cost to CSUN’s students. They supply 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.

(818) 677-2730

CSUN Food Pantry Website

Location:

The CSUN Food Pantry is located in Laurel Hall; next to Sagebrush Hall, directly across from parking lots D6 and E6.  

Hours of operation:

• The CSUN Food Pantry will be operating:
• Monday 9am-1pm
• Tuesday 9am-1pm
• Wednesday 1pm-7pm
• Thursday: 1pm-5pm

Service(s) Provided: 

• Pre-packaged emergency nourishment and basic necessities at no cost to CSUN’s students, faculty and staff 

Requirements:

• Visitors are NOT expected to show proof of need, we only ask for proof of campus affiliation such as a CSUN ID or myCSUNprofile

CalFresh Outreach is an application assistance program to support potentially eligible students with obtaining food aid.

(818) 677-2704

CalFresh CSUN YouCanBookMe profile

Location:

All appointments are currently via phone or Zoom with one of our CalFresh Outreach Advocates.

Hours of operation:

CalFresh Outreach will be operating under modified hours. To book an appointment, select the CalFresh CSUN YouCanBookMe profile, choose your appointment type, then choose an available time from the synced calendar

Service(s) Provided: 

• CalFresh application assistance

Requirements:

•  California ID and Social Security number. Additional documentation may be needed.

The CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program allows eligible homeless, disabled, and/or elderly (ages 60 and above) CalFresh benefit recipients to use their benefits to purchase hot, prepared food from participating restaurants in California. Locations on campus that accept RMP are listed below.

Locations:

• Matador Mercado - USU
• G'Mos, El Pollo Loco, Subway

Hours of operation:

Varied per location

Service(s) Provided: 

• EBT Redemption

The WIC Program helps pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children under age 5 years old to eat well and stay healthy by providing healthy foods at no cost.

(818) 361-7541

Location:

• CSUN WIC Outreach Office - Sequoia Hall Room 113
• Reseda WIC office - 18341 Sherman Way Suite 108

Hours of operation:

• CSUN office
• Thursdays: 9 am - noon
• Reseda office:
• Mondays & Wednesdays: 10 am - 7pm
• Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays: 8 am - 5 pm

Service(s) Provided: 

• WIC participants receive free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals, and checks for free healthy food.

Requirements:

• Must be a pregnant woman, recently had a baby, and/or have a child under age 5 years
• Have low to medium income
• Live in California

CSUN provides designated lactation spaces for staff, faculty, and students who have returned to work or school and need a space to safely express their milk. All of the CSUN lactation spaces are private, comfortable, and easily accessible. Lactation is the process of making milk for a baby and requires consistent, predictable removal of milk from breasts to maintain milk supply, for comfort and to prevent illness.

(818) 677-7715

CSUN Lactation Accommodations Website

Location:

• There are currently 4 lactation spaces on the CSUN campus with more spaces coming soon!
• The spaces are located in Santa Susana Hall 104, Klotz Student Health Center, University Student Union East Conference Center, and Sequoia Hall second floor.
• Please see the lactation spaces map for further information on how to access the space and the most updated list of locations. 

Hours of operation:

• Hours at each location vary.
• See the lactation spaces map for more information.

Service(s) Provided: 

• A safe, comfortable space for moms to express their milk.

Requirements:

• To be a mother currently breastfeeding or pumping.

CSUN Dining provides convenient snacks, coffeehouses, and reasonably priced meals throughout CSUN campus.

(818) 677-2669

CSUN Dining Office

Location:

• CalFresh Retail Program - EBT is accepted at the following locations:
• Matador Mercado Campus Store Complex
• Matador Mercado Student Housing
• Matador Mercado University Student Union
• Arbor Grill
• Burger King
• Freudian Sip (All 6 Locations)
• Geronimo's/Bamboo Terrace
• Subway
• The Marketplace
• The Pub

•   CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program

Hours of operation:

• Vary by location. Check the CSUN Dining Website for specific hours
  per location.

Service(s) Provided: 

• CalFresh Retail and Restaurant Program Implementation.
• EBT Accepted

Requirements:

• Participants must be enrolled in either the CalFresh Retail or Restaurant Program.

The EOP/TRIO Student Support Services Program (SSSP)provides first generation college students from low income communities and students with disabilities the opportunity to receive services designed to help them achieve their academic and professional goals. TRIO SSSP builds a community of support by offering academic advisement, study skills development, career exploration, graduate school information, financial literacy and mentoring. Program students also participate in cultural and educational enhancement activities. EOP/TRIO SSSP also offers free lunch on selected Tuesdays. The Free Lunch program is opened to all CSUN students. Contact the office at 818-677-2358 for current lunch schedule

(818) 677-2358

TRIO Support Services Website

Location:

TRIO SSS is at Bayramian Hall, Room #220

Hours of operation:

• Program office is opened Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• The Tuesday Lunch is offered on selected Tuesdays through the semester. Please contact the office for current schedule.

Service(s) Provided: 

• Academic advisement, study skills development workshops, career exploration, graduate school information and admissions assistance, financial literacy and mentoring.
• Program students also participate in cultural and educational enhancement activities. EOP/TRIO SSSP also offers free lunch on selected Tuesdays. The Free Lunch program is opened to all CSUN students. 
• Academic Support (tutoring), Career Counseling, Computer Lab, Cultural and Educational Enhancement Activities, Financial Literacy, Graduate School Information and Preparation Workshops, Holistic Advisement, Mentoring, and Personal Development.

Requirements:

• Program services are offered to first-generation students from low-income communities and/or students with disabilities.
• Students must fill out a program application and complete the interview process. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
• The Tuesday Lunch program is offered to all CSUN students.

Join the Food Recovery Network (FRN) at CSUN in fighting waste and feeding people! FRN@CSUN recovers food from CSUN dining locations that would otherwise be thrown away, and we deliver it to local shelters who feed those in need. We have weekly recoveries and there are many ways to help!. If you are interested, please email

Food Recovery Network Website

Location:

• Women’s Resource Center, 18356 Halsted Street
• EOP Bayramian Hall, Room 245
• Veterans Resource Center, University Student Union (USU)
• Pride Center, USU, 2nd flood Sol Center
• Dream Center, USU, Building C

Hours of operation:

Wednesday 9am – until out 

Service(s) Provided: 

• Redistributes recovered food goods throughout the CSUN Campus and the surrounding community 

Requirements:

• None

The CSUN food garden was established to educate students about sustainable food gardening techniques and healthy food choices, to promote direct community involvement and provide service-learning opportunities. 

(818) 677-7710

CSUN Sustainability Website

Location:

The garden and compost area are located on the North East side of the California State University, Northridge campus between the baseball and softball fields and directly behind Northridge Academy High School

Hours of operation:

Varies by day. Please check schedule on our website.

Service(s) Provided: 

• Volunteers learn all aspects of urban farming, including composting, soil restoration, seed planting and saving, and harvesting food, and can take home some what we grow.
• Surplus food is also donated to the CSUN Food Pantry.

Requirements:

• No experience necessary. Volunteers must complete and sign a volunteer waiver, and sign up online at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled workday. Check out Student Opportunities at CSUN Sustainability.

The mission of the Marilyn Magaram Center (MMC) is to enhance and promote health and well-being through research, education and services in food science, nutrition and dietetics.
the Marilyn Magaram Center serves the needs of diverse communities and encourages the public to draw on the special talent of its faculty and students by providing a wide variety of instruction related programs and services designed to provide students with opportunities for diverse human and cultural experiences, development of skills and creativity.

(818) 677-3102

CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center Website

Location:

Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics is located at CSUN Sequoia Hall Room 120

Hours of operation:

Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 4:30 am

Service(s) Provided: 

• The Marilyn Magaram Center (MMC) offers a variety of products and services.
• Nutrition assessment and counseling, body composition testing through our BodPod, Support WIC Satellite on campus, Food Recovery network,  Diet Analysis,Recipe Analysis, Wellness workshops, professional development, scholarships, research and internship opportunities, Pathways to Success program for students, lactation education, supermarket tours, cooking at the Farmer's Market, Health fairs and food demonstrations. 
• Compusense (sensory and nutrient analysis) 
• ServSafe Certification, 
  Products developed by our staff and students such as the Matador Marmalade,Spicy Matador, Bee a Matador honey, 
  MMC Wellness Cookbook.
• Wellness garden and lets grow Healthy certificate training, and peer mentoring.

Requirements:

• Everyone is welcome!