NEED MONEY FOR FOOD?

Welcome to CalFresh Outreach!

Not sure if you’re eligible? Take our screener below to find out!

Find out my eligibility!

Follow us on Instagram for updates, recipes and fun @calfreshcalpoly

Did you lose groceries in the recent SLO county storms (starting February 3, 2024) due to events like power outages or flooding? If so, you can request replacement benefits for food damaged or lost during this time! The deadline is March 24, 2024. Th

Here’s what is in season this month! Shop fresh this month🧡

Did you know that receiving CalFresh makes you automatically eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides eligible households with $30/month for your internet bill? Only one person needs to be eligible for your household to receiv

Looking to stretch your grocery budget? Applying for CalFresh is a great way to start! Get $291/month for groceries, along with additional benefits like utility discounts and Market Match (double your benefits!) at the Farmers Market! We have lots of

Are you looking for some new recipes this quarter? Here are some tips for trying new recipes on a budget! Comment some of your favorite tips or favorite websites/books to get recipes from!

Here’s what’s in season for January! Don’t forget you can use your EBT to buy this produce (and more!) at the Downtown Thursday Farmers Market and the Saturday Madonna Farmers Market!

We’re giving away FOUR crockpots! For a chance to win, just attend a free cooking class on-campus hosted by CalFresh Healthy Living (our partner organization), where you’ll learn to cook a delicious meal that you can eat at the end of cla

With tax season coming up, a lot of students have questions about how CalFresh impacts their taxes — the answer is that it does not! CalFresh will not ask you any info about your taxes, and your tax forms do not require that you report CalFresh

Happy Winter Quarter!!❄️ We are back with new hours. Make an appointment on our website with our Calendly today!!❤️

Happy December! Here’s what is in season this month! Don’t forget you can use your EBT to buy this and more at the Downtown SLO Farmer’s Market!

What is CalFresh at Cal Poly?

Cal Poly’s CalFresh Outreach team is a student driven initiative that guides students to food resources and through the CalFresh application process. We are from a wide range of backgrounds and majors but we all have the common goal of increasing access to culturally appropriate and nutritious food for all Cal Poly students.

What is CalFresh? It is basically financial aid for food! CalFresh is a nutrition assistance program that provides eligible students with up to $281 per month to spend on groceries. It gives students the flexibility to buy the foods they love at their favorite grocery stores or farmers markets (Trader Joe’s, Costco, Vons, Food 4 Less, the downtown Farmer's Market and more)! CalFresh is California's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and was formerly called ‘food stamps.’

Our passionate team of students walks students through the CalFresh application, helps them organize their verification documents and sends out reminders about follow up steps! Additionally, our team connects students to other relevant basic needs resources in the community! We know that sufficient access to culturally appropriate and nutritious food is essential for Cal Poly students to thrive in both their academic and personal lives.

that sounds helpful for me—

What’s the process like?

The CalFresh Application process is broken down into 4 steps! The whole process takes anywhere from 3 to 30 days, depending on individual income situations.

First, student applicant meets with a peer CalFresh advocate on Zoom for about 30 minutes to go over eligibility and submit an application.

Second, the applicant submits different verification documents that the CalFresh peer advocate will explain to them during their initial Zoom appointment.

Third, the student has a phone interview with a case worker from the Dept of Social Services to confirm the information on their application and their verification documents.

Fourth, if the applicant is approved by the Dept of Social Services they will start receiving money for groceries!

We’ve moved online!

VIDEO CALL appointments now available

Since March 2020, we’ve moved our services to be fully online with occasional in-person drop in sessions (follow our Instagram to find out when!).

We are currently providing application support through phone or Zoom/video call. Click on the Calendly Button below (bottom right corner) to find our most up-to-date available appointment times and choose one that works for you!

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