Students in need can quickly and easily enroll in CalFresh, a nutrition and food assistance program, on Feb. 27.

The Broncos Care Basic Needs Program and CalFresh Outreach team at Cal Poly Pomona will be participating in the state-wide CSU CalFresh Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at University Park. The event is designed to raise awareness and educate students about the CalFresh program, as well as assist students applying for CalFresh.

CalFresh helps qualified students become eligible for up to $194 in free groceries. Benefits can be used on campus to purchase food at locations including the Farm Store, Pony Express, and Vista Market, as well as off campus at almost any grocery store or farmers market.

"Many students have either not heard of the program, or are not sure if it would be something they would be eligible for," said Judy Juarez Crawford, care services coordinator of the Basic Needs Program. "This event is a great opportunity for our students to learn more about CalFresh."

L.A. County eligibility workers will also be present to complete applications and interviews, reducing the usual wait time of 30 days to less than one hour. Additionally, eligibility workers will be able to enroll students in Medi-Cal.

"By accessing resources like CalFresh, students are able to have regular resources for food and support their food security," Juarez Crawford said. "We believe that food and housing security are imperative to student success and want all students to know there are services like CalFresh Outreach, the Poly Pantry, and the Meal Assistance Program that are geared for just this."

CSU CalFresh Day, which held its inaugural event in 2019, was formed by way of the Basic Needs Initiative out of Graduation Initiative 2025, striving to improve completion rates and eliminate equity gaps. Each of the 23 CSU campuses will be participating.