What is the Basic Needs Center?
The Basic Needs Center (BNC) is a UC Berkeley program that helps foster belonging and justice on the UC Berkeley campus through a robust model that includes both short-term emergency relief and long-term support services addressing students’ basic needs. Support includes addressing areas of need such as food security, housing security and financial stability.
Students can access resources such as assistance with CalFresh applications and troubleshooting if facing case complications, free Grab n Go meals, and the Basic Needs Food Pantry for food security assistance. Housing support includes help with housing searching, learning about tenant rights, and even short term emergency housing support. Lastly, the BNC offers financial stability support by connecting students with financial aid counselors and resource navigation and access to the Basic Needs Emergency Fund.
The north side of the MLK Student Union is where you can find the BNC Food Pantry and drop-in appointment office.
It’s important for every student to know about the resources available through the BNC and how to access them. The center emphasizes justice and belonging as its core values, striving to help students access resources to fulfill their basic needs without adding any more stress than they might already be feeling. The BNC works to address basic needs insecurities at a systemic level, as basic needs challenges are oftentimes blamed on the individual, while the BNC recognizes that it is not the fault of an individual but part of a larger system. Learning about the BNC resources and how they can help you is a good first step towards getting the help you need.
Perspective of a BNC student worker
I had the opportunity to sit down with Maddie Chesebro, a fourth-year student studying Environmental Economics and Policy and Sociology. Maddie is the Community Engagement & Outreach Lead at the BNC, and answered our questions all about the BNC.
Maddie working at a Basic Needs Pop Up on Lower Sproul, where the BNC gives out Food Pantry items to students walking by to help alleviate food insecurity and promote our Pantry.
What are some of the most common reasons students come to the BNC?
“47% of undergraduates and 25% of graduate students at UC Berkeley reported being food insecure in the 2024-25 UC Student Experience Surveys, which represents a large portion of our campus struggling to obtain affordable, nutritious, and accessible food and meals. Many students come to us seeking food resources, due to the popularity and impact of our Food Pantry, Grab n Go meal program, CalFresh application and troubleshooting assistance, and various other community resources and food support.”
What are the main BNC community programming and resources?
“1. Food Resources: Food Pantry, Grab n Go meal program, CalFresh application and troubleshooting assistance, and various other community resources and food support.
The food pantry is an easy-to-use resource for people seeking food assistance.
2. Financial Resources: Basic Needs Emergency Fund, FASO Drop-Ins.
3. Housing Resources: Housing Search Resource List, Rent & Housing Security Deposit Support (part of Basic Needs Emergency Fund), and Short Term Emergency Housing.”
The BNC offers in-person appointments for support. This office is located right next to the BNC Food Pantry in the basement level of the MLK Student Union.
What is an underutilized BNC resource that students should know more about?
“Students should know more about our Drop-Ins, where students can meet with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) to speak with a Financial Aid Counselor to adjust their financial aid package, assess loans and grants, or receive any other financial aid related support. We also have Nutrition Drop-Ins, where students can get advice regarding healthy eating, meal prep, navigating food allergies and restrictions, and overall improving their diets. These hours and locations (some virtual and some in person) are found at the Events & Programs Calendar on our website!”
Can you tell me about the food pantry in the Student Union? Why is it important and what should students know about it?
The BNC Food Pantry check-in desk, located on the first floor of the Student Union.
“The Basic Needs Food Pantry is a short-term emergency food resource that every single UC Berkeley student can visit up to once per week. They simply need a Cal 1 Card and can take advantage of this incredible and free resource! Students need to sign up for the virtual queue on our website from wherever they are, will get a text when it’s their turn, and then can come to the Food Pantry check-in desk to sign in. Once they’ve checked in, they simply walk downstairs and can “shop” at the Pantry! Just as a reminder, all of our resources are completely free for all UC Berkeley students to utilize!”
The process of signing up to enter the BNC Food Pantry. (Left) The form required to sign up for the queue. (Top right) The portal that shows you your estimated wait time and place in the queue. (Bottom right) You will receive text message updates while you are in the queue!
What is your favorite story or moment while working for BNC?
“A student once shared with me that the resources we offered at the BNC made an incredible impact on their life, so much so that they continually share our resources with anyone they know because of how impactful these resources can really be! This moment really allowed me to reflect on the massive impact the Center has had on the entire Berkeley student body, and the importance of doing this work!”
How did you get involved and interested in the Basic Needs Center?
“I applied to the Basic Needs Center to be a student staff member on the Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) team my freshman spring! I had utilized the Food Pantry prior to applying, giving me a wonderful introduction to the BNC and their services. I began following the Center on social media and really enjoyed the Center’s playful but very informative social media content, which encouraged me to utilize my communications skills to contribute to the wider UC Berkeley campus and expand knowledge of the BNC. I spent one year as an Ambassador and now serve as the Lead, and am now in my second year serving as Lead for the Community Engagement and Outreach team.”
What is your favorite part about working for BNC? What inspired you to work for BNC?
“My favorite part is definitely how rewarding working at the BNC is, as I personally witness the benefits our services have on students every day. Whether I’m tabling at a Resource Fair and a student shares how appreciative they are of the BNC and our services, or reading the kind comments folks leave on our social media posts, it’s incredibly clear just how many students we are reaching with our in-person and online engagement across the entire UC Berkeley campus. I also truly love the people who work at the BNC; all of the student staff, volunteers, interns, and full-time staff are incredibly kind, passionate, and remarkable people who make the work incredibly easy and meaningful! Seeing how impactful this community is really inspired me to work for the BNC!”
What do you do during a shift?
“The CEO role is very unique in that I don’t typically have shifts in the same way that a Food Team member may have a shift at the Pantry or a Front Desk team member may have a shift at the Welcome Center. My role consists of: tabling at Resource Fairs, giving Presentations on BNC resources and services, hosting Game Nights, Pop Up Pantries, or other programming, creating, filming, and editing social media content, and supporting miscellaneous tasks that have to do with overseeing my team and the Center’s communications. My ‘shift’ may look like setting up, tabling, and taking down for a Resource Fair, or coming to the Center to film and edit a video to be sent over for feedback from my supervisor. This makes every ‘shift’ incredibly fun and unique!”
How do you balance being a student and worker?
“My calendar is incredibly important to organize my schedule (such as when each step of a social media project is due, or when I am attending an event), as well as plan ahead. Ensuring that I communicate my capacity on a week by week basis with my team, prioritizing meeting deadlines, and dedicating time to take breaks and organize fun time off of work are all pertinent tools I use when being a student worker. I also have so much fun working at the BNC, so filming social media videos is oftentimes filled with chatting with my coworkers and building in time for community building, making working at the Center feel less like ‘work.’”
What has working at the BNC taught you in terms of professional skills?
“I have learned a lot about project management and associated tools, social media content creation and management skills, communication and resource promotion, and have been offered professional development resources and insight into careers focused on providing basic needs support, working in higher education, and communications.”
How did working for BNC shape your Berkeley experience?
“I have met some of the most incredible people and friends through working at the BNC, while gaining crucial social media content creation and management, communication, and resource promotion skills. Working for the BNC has opened so many doors for me due to the incredible content creation skills I have gained, how much more comfortable I am with communicating with folks, and the lifelong friends and mentors I have gained along the way!”
What are ways students can get involved in the BNC?
“Each semester, the BNC opens applications for students to apply to volunteer for the BNC’s Food Pantry or Food Recovery efforts through the Grab n Go meals program, which is a wonderful first step for getting involved with the BNC! Every March, we also open applications for Student Staff roles across all of our teams typically, including Food Pantry, Food Recovery, CalFresh, Front Desk, and Community Engagement and Outreach. Furthermore, we have College Corps interns placed at the BNC. Stay up to date with our social media pages and newsletter for information on how and when to apply!”
Find what you need at the BNC
Across the food, financial, and housing resources that the BNC offers, there is plenty of support available to help you meet your basic needs. No matter how much support you may need in meeting your basic needs, the folks tucked into the bottom level of the Student Union are there to help!
The resources at the BNC have the capacity to make an incredible impact on your life or simply provide a steady source for your basic needs, so don’t be afraid to visit the BNC if you are in need of help.
Ethan Teeguarden, Class of 2027, is majoring in English and minoring in journalism.
Want more?
- Mental health resources are also a basic need, start with counseling.
- Borrowing and other free resources are available to you, explore these free resources!
- Learn more about the Student Union and the resources it provides.