Kimberly Saavedra, a graduate student in social welfare, said her family felt the impact of pauses to CalFresh, California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Reduced aid from food banks is making it difficult for families to afford holiday meals like Thanksgiving, she added.
The Community Program Office’s Turkey Box Giveaway program is serving students like Saavedra – allowing them to focus on upcoming finals rather than food.
“Thanksgiving is a really big food holiday, but it’s hard to look forward to when you can’t afford it,” she said. “’It’s nice to not have to stress about the holidays for a little bit and to just be able to focus on class.”
The Community Programs Office – a student service dedicated to providing basic needs – hosted its 10th Annual Turkey Food Box Giveaway program Nov. 18 and 19, distributing more than 1,500 boxes packed with turkeys, pies and other traditional Thanksgiving dinner ingredients. Boxes were distributed on the Student Activities Center Pool Deck from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Benefits for CalFresh were temporarily suspended during part of the federal government shutdown, which lasted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12. CalFresh benefits began being restored Nov. 6 following a court order during the shutdown, but there could be delays in delivering the benefits, according to the New York Times.
[Related: Federal government shutdown threatens CalFresh benefits, students’ food security]
LaVon Nightingale Smith, a CPO staff member, said the demand for boxes was higher this year than in years past due to delays in CalFresh benefits. Volunteers distributed boxes to about 900 students in one day, she added.
“Especially this year with the pause on the CalFresh initiative and the disruption, now – more than ever – we’re making sure we’re pushing out enough boxes to help as many students as possible and community members,” said Smith, a four-year international development studies student.
She said the box’s ingredients can serve up to 10 people, adding that many of the ingredients can be used throughout the month because they are non-perishable.
“It’s really nice to be able to make a Thanksgiving meal with my friends here,” said Isabelle Krieger, a graduate student in musicology who picked up a box.
Antonio Sandoval, the director of CPO and chair of the Campus Basic and Essential Needs Committee, said the application to receive a box was open to undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Considering the increased demand for boxes this year, he added that accommodating applicants on CalFresh benefits was a priority.
The annual event fits into CPO’s broader goal of destigmatizing food insecurity and building a stronger sense of community among students, Sandoval said.
“The biggest takeaway I’m hoping our student communities get from this process is that food insecurity should not be stigmatized – that the campus has a wonderful set of staff that really care about their success as students, not just as students academically but the whole student,” he said.
Sandoval also said the program allows students and their families – especially those from low-income backgrounds – to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner without financial burden. He added that, for new Americans and international students, the program can provide an opportunity for them to feel a sense of belonging in the United States.
Sandoval said he faced food and housing insecurity as an undergraduate student himself, which motivated him to be of service to others.
“My mom once told me, ‘You have a beautiful life.’ The reason she said is, ‘You get to help people not have the situation you had when you were once in their position,’” he said.
Sandoval added that he sees the program as a meaningful way for the UCLA community to uplift students that may be struggling.
“We’re not doing this out of any charity, we’re doing this because we’re part of a community,” he said.
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