UC Irvine opens expansive food pantry as more college students struggle with hunger

UC Irvine opens the Fresh Basic Needs Hub trailer as part of the largest food pantry in the 10-campus University of California system to address rising hunger among college students.

Students are served food during the opening of the Fresh Needs Hub at UC Irvine. The 1,818-square-foot facility offers fresh, canned and packaged produce, a kitchen for cooking demonstrations and space for study and socializing.

Celine Qussiny, left, a UC Irvine graduate, Mohammed Bensufia, middle, a third-year social policy major, and Nef Rogers, right, a fifth-year computer science major, eat Vietnamese spring rolls as UC Irvine opens a new food pantry for students.

Malek Kudaimi, right, and Jessica Vanroo, center, serve Vietnamese spring rolls to UC Irvine students at the Fresh Basic Needs Hub.