People walked into the Los Medanos College Marketplace Feb. 24 to find shelves full of canned foods, produce and frozen items. They were there for an event sponsored by Basic Needs to celebrate Black History Month and Calfresh, a program that provides discounts and fresh food to students who qualify.
Every semester, Basic Needs holds a Calfresh Outreach Week, this semester pairing it with a Black History Month celebration.
The Basic Needs program helps students sign up for financial aid and ensures they know about and have access to essential resources.
According to Basic Needs coordinator Pamela Pereira, Calfresh also provides extra help in accessing food, benefits and other discounts you have to apply online.
“Basic Needs provides help on campus for gas, groceries and parking permits and has outside programs with housing help,” she said.
Aaron Micheal Ramos volunteers for Basic Needs by helping with CalFresh applications and said events like this help promote an important service.
“It’s really good to know students are utilizing all their resources,” he said.
As people walked through the shop during the event, they filled their baskets and checked out at the front of the room, then took a paper from the Black history quiz pile. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable about the Black History figures. The quiz took attendees around the room to match faces and names of Black historical figures on informational posters, with short summaries of their biographies.
The coordinators know exactly how Calfresh helps students and the school’s environment.
“These events mean a lot. They help students not feel alone and be less overwhelmed,” said Pereira. “Students learn what they can get and can focus more on their studies.”
Student attendee Ian Filart appreciated the new information he received.
“This event makes you more aware,” Filart said.
For more information about CalFresh or the Basic Needs program, make sure to check the LMC marketplace on campus or the resources page of the LMC website and click on the Basic Needs link.
