03 Dec Elevating Titans, Transforming Experiences: How Kaiser Foundation Hospitals is Expanding Food Access For Students
Rising living costs and academic pressures shouldn’t leave students wondering where their next meal will come from but for many Titans, food insecurity is a harsh reality. In fact, over 41 percent of college students in the U.S. faced food insecurity in 2025, with over 400,000 public college students relying on benefits from CalFresh to put food on the table.
To tackle this challenge head-on, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals is making a significant investment in student well-being at Cal State Fullerton with a $40,000 donation to the Associated Students Inc. Food Pantry.
This fund is directly supercharging The Pantry’s to-go programs, expanding pop-up services and making culturally diverse, nutritious food more accessible than ever. This is the second year ASI has received one of Kaiser’s community grants, made possible through the CSUF Philanthropic Foundation.
Kaiser Permanente Foundation Hospitals has played a key roles in funding the success of The Pantry’s efforts. / ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
“This grant has given us an opportunity to be more centralized on campus,” said Alyssa Koba, ASI Food Pantry coordinator. “We have these opportunities to be more centralized in the Central Quad; we can advertise our services to students who have been unaware of our existence while also grounding our position within ASI.”
From utilizing high traffic campus spaces to hosting holiday events, this support ensures that every Titan has a chance to thrive without worrying about basic needs.
Expanding Outreach and Reducing Stigma
Pantry Pop-Up events give out everything from snacks, reheatable meals, drinks, produce and more. / Credit: ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
Kaiser Foundation Hospital’s funding has helped The Pantry achieve one of its most important goals: making students aware of the support available to them.
“As a student, you juggle multiple roles: work, school, family obligations and on top of that, you have to think about your health,” said Christina Truong, associate director for Titan Student Union Programs and Food Pantry. “Theres a financial burden in not knowing if you have the funds to buy groceries, but knowing students have this service helps ease that pressure.”
By increasing outreach this year, The Pantry has created an environment where food assistance is seen as a choice that supports health and academic success, rather than a last resort.
ASI professional staff play a key role in volunteering at Pop-Up Pantry events. / ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
This past fall, The Pantry’s ability to host on-campus outreach efforts have nearly doubled. Throughout this semester, The Pantry has been able to host four “Pop-Up Pantry” events, one “Snack To Go: Finals Edition” event set in December, while also collaborating with TitanHEALTH to develop “Cook and Connect,” a hands-on experience designed to teach students how to utilize staples from The Pantry to create nutritious, high-energy meals.
This semester alone, events hosted by The Pantry have reached more than 660 students, and its day-to-day operations have distributed over 50,000 pounds of food, ensuring Titans receive support wherever they need it on campus. “When you see people using The Pantry, whether it’s because they actually need it or just because they want it and it’s available to them, that destigmatizes it as a resource,” said Koba. “It opens conversations around the resources available to Titans, especially during such a crucial time, and it continues that conversation.”
Culturally Relevant Foods Meet Students’ Real Needs
The Pantry’s “Cook and Connect” series utilizes culturally diverse ingredients to make meals. / Credit: ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
Kaiser Foundation Hospital’s support also widens the Pantry’s operating budget to purchase foods that reflect Titan demographics. With strong Southeast Asian and Hispanic student populations at CSUF, culturally familiar foods allow the Pantry to provide more inclusive and diverse resources.
“The Kaiser grant allows us to focus on expanding our culturally significant and relevant foods,” shared Koba. “We have a very diverse hub of students, so purchasing items that are in their preferred flavor profiles is especially important in helping students find a piece of home on campus.”
“Cook and Connect” recipes strive to help college students prep more nutrient-dense food. / Credit: ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
When needed, the Pantry also pairs convenience items with nutritional guidance, including informational sheets on how to build a better instant meal. Rather than rely solely on instant ramen to get them through the day, Koba says changes as simple as adding an egg, corn or green beans can make meals more nutrient-dense.
Collaboration Strengthens Impact Across Campus
A Titan Health student member assists at a resource table stocked with information on college food access, healthy eating and student support services, ensuring Titans have access to the help they need. / Credit: ASI Marketing, Communications & Design
Beyond food distribution, the Food Pantry’s partnerships with Tuffy’s Basic Needs Services, TitanWELL and CHOMP allow students to expand their wellness education and receive hands-on learning with demonstrations showcasing simple, nutritious recipes.
“Overall, working together to raise awareness of all these resources has been so impactful as each of our resources is kind of supplementary,” said Koba. “We, as the Pantry, do not have the capacity to meet everyone’s basic needs, but together, Tuffy’s Basic Needs Services, Titan Well and CHOMP can help provide additional support to students in various forms.”
Along with campus partners, volunteers across ASI have become essential to the Pantry’s success.
A student government leader assists at The Pantry’s Pop-Up event, interacting with Titans and providing essential resources to support their well-being. / Credit: ASI Marketing, Communications & Design
“I love how we all, as ASI, come together and help with events; our events would not be possible without the volunteers who help distribute the food and provide aid to the students,” said Koba. “Its so amazing to have all of our ASI coworkers come together, interact with the students and see the real difference the Pantry has made on their lives.”
A Lasting Impact on Student Well-Being
Students show off their food creations during a ‘Cook and Connect’ series event, gaining hands-on experience with nutritious recipes and practical culinary skills. / Credit: ASI Marketing, Communications & Design
For students juggling work, family responsibilities and academic expectations, the Pantry’s support can remove one key source of stress students may feel throughout the semester.
“Providing access to consistent, reliable resources ensures that students can focus on their education instead of worrying about their next meal,” said Truong. “It’s about creating stability so students can thrive both academically and personally.”
To learn more about the Pantry and its efforts toward expanding food access for all Titans, visit the ASI website.