Basic Needs Resources
Staff is attending Convocation from 8am - 1pm on August 8th and will be unavailable until 1pm.
Will open at 1pm and close at 2:30pm.
The Food Pantry
Stop by the Food Pantry, open every Monday – Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM, located in the Student Life Center in Building 1400, Room #1427 and shop for your FREE groceries and snacks!
The Food Pantry is open to all Solano Community College students across our three campuses in Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo.
Who Can Use the Food Pantry
Open to all currently enrolled Solano Community College students across all three campuses.
Hours & Locations
- Fairfield Campus: Monday – Friday, 9AM to 5 PM in Building 1400, Room #1427 – browse and select your own FREE groceries and snacks!
- Vallejo & Vacaville Centers: Ready-to-go pantry bags available at the front office.
Our Services
Getting food from The Food Pantry is easy and welcoming. Just bring your valid Solano Community College student ID and you’re all set! We’ll provide you with a shopping bag so you can select the food items that work best for you and your family, though we encourage bringing your own bag to help us stay environmentally friendly.
Our pantry is stocked with essential food items including proteins (canned tuna, salmon, chicken), shelf-stable goods (soups, vegetables, beans, pasta, sauce, fruits, cereal, oatmeal, rice) to beverages, snacks, and fresh items including eggs, cheese, and seasonal produce. Selection changes based on available donations and inventory.
What to bring:
- Valid student ID from Solano Community College (required)
- Your own shopping bag (encouraged but not required)
- *If you do not have a Solano Community College ID, you may receive your first student ID  free at the Cashier’s office, located in Building 400, first floor. Note: Replacement cards are available for a fee.
For special accommodations or additional questions, contact the Basic Needs Center at basic.needs@solano.edu or (707) 864-7261.
CalFresh Benefits – Free Grocery Money!
- CalFresh is California’s food assistance program designed to help students afford healthy, nutritious meals. This program provides monthly benefits that won’t affect your existing financial aid, and the application process doesn’t require your parents’ tax returns. Students who qualify receive monthly funds specifically for purchasing food.
- Getting started is easy: complete your application online at https://benefitscal.com/ or stop by one of our CalFresh assistance tables located outside the Food Pantry (available bi-monthly) for help with the application process.
Community Food Support Beyond Campus-Â Â Looking for additional food assistance in Solano County? These local resources can help:
- Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County – Locate nearby food banks and pantries: https://www.foodbankccs.org/find-food/foodbycity/
- Food is Free Bay Area – Community food sharing programs: https://fifbayarea.org/
- Partnership Health – Complete list of area food resources: http://www.partnershiphp.org/Community/Documents/Solano/Solano_Food.pdf
- Solano County Mobile Food Pantry – Mobile food services: https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/bureaus/fhs/mobile_food_pharmacy.asp
- Any student who is currently enrolled at Solano Community College qualifies for support.
- Our commitment at Solano Community College is to fight hunger and food insecurity on campus by serving our students with their needs and access to nourishing foods at no cost. Our goal is for students to live an active and healthy lifestyle while focusing on their educational journey.
- It’s easy to shop at The Food Pantry. Just provide us with your first and last name along with your current student ID#. A shopping bag is provided for students to select their own food items to ensure they are happy and satisfied with what they receive. Typical food items consists of: canned goods (tuna, salmon, chicken, soups, vegetables, beans, pasta sauce, and fruits), cereal, milk, oatmeal, water and flavored beverages, bags of rice, beans and pasta, a variety of snacks, and selected perishable items (eggs, cheese, fruits and vegetables). *food and perishable items may vary depending on availability
- If you need special accommodations or have additional questions, please reach out to the Basic Needs Center, basic.needs@solano.edu, or (707) 864-7261.
Free money for groceries!
- CalFresh is a California financial aid program that helps students buy food and eat healthier. It will not affect your financial aid package and you do not need your parent’s tax return information to apply. CalFresh offers free money for qualified individuals, including students.
- It’s easy to apply. Simply visit https://benefitscal.com/ and complete the online
application or stop by the office for CalFresh applications.
Food Resources
- If you are in need of additional food resources in Solano County and surrounding cities, visit Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County:
https://www.foodbankccs.org/find-food/foodbycity/ - Food is Free Bay Area: https://fifbayarea.org/
- Partnership Health list of food resources: http://www.partnershiphp.org/Community/Documents/Solano/Solano_Food.pdf
- Solano County Mobile Food Pantry: https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/bureaus/fhs/mobile_food_pharmacy.asp
Check out these student testimonials!
“The food pantry has helped me out in many ways – especially with the increase of prices of food.”
 “The food pantry has helped not only me but my family. The pantry is absolutely great!”
“I really enjoy the food pantry on campus. Being able to have access to food, especially when prices for food are a lot right now, it helps me and my family when food is tight.”
“The food bank has been a god-send. Being a first generation college student and a single mom times get hard and even with CalFresh there have been many of days where I was not sure what I could feed my girls or even if I could but because of the SCC Food Bank – I do not have to be scared or worried now because I know I can count on the food bank to keep my children’s diet complete. One thing I really appreciate is that students can pick what they need because it limits the amount of food that may be wasted and also that the environment is welcoming.”
“OMG!!! The food pantry on campus has helped me out tremendously! We have access to FREE fresh produce, dairy, pastries, canned goods, etc…. Super thankful for this service – it eliminates the thought of what do I have to eat, thank you!!!!”Â
“Eggs! Cheese! Bread! Coffee & Sugar… Veggies & Fruits and so much more… I must mention the great staff who always greet us and make us feel welcome. Hopefully, more students will utilize this resource that is accessible and available for all.”