Every month, Pasadena City College hosts a Mobile Food Pantry, allowing students to receive crucial food assistance without disrupting their schedules.

For many college students, balancing tuition and the rising costs of everyday essentials is becoming increasingly difficult. As the cost of living continues to rise, access to nutritious food can make a meaningful difference in a student’s ability to focus on their education and future goals.

For Mai, a student at Pasadena City College (PCC), the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry provides convenient access to food and household items that help ease her family’s financial stress. Having food assistance available on campus helps reduce one more source of stress.

“If I didn’t have this, it would be really hard,” she explained. “We’re always budgeting regardless.”

“It’s really nice to have the option here to go grocery shopping for myself,” Mai said. “I love yogurt, but sometimes I can’t get it because you don’t have the budget for it.” 

Breaking The Stigma

There are many reasons why a person may reject the idea of asking for food assistance. Whether it’s pride, shame, or guilt, the Food Bank and its partners work together to improve each person’s experience and respect their privacy. 

One of the benefits of the Mobile Food Pantry program is accessibility. By bringing food distributions directly to college campuses, students can receive support without having to travel to another location or rearrange already busy schedules, and they can receive food assistance from their peers. This commitment to providing food with dignity helps ensure that students who need assistance can access it without fear, stigma, or unnecessary barriers.

College students should not have to choose between pursuing their education and putting food on the table. Through partnerships with schools like Pasadena City College, the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry program helps students access nutritious food close to where they learn.

As food insecurity continues to affect students, programs like the Mobile Food Pantry remain an important resource, helping students stay nourished, focused, and on track to achieve their goals. Consider donating to the Food Bank, where 96% of all proceeds go directly to funding programs like the Mobile Food Pantry.