Dear Cal alums, parents, and friends,
For UC Berkeley students who struggle to pay for food and housing, the recent government shutdown increased those challenges. Nearly 17,000 students lack reliable access to food, over 3,300 students encounter unstable housing, and more than 2,400 face both hunger and housing instability at the same time. Even though the shutdown has ended, their needs have not.
Thanks to our community’s quick action, the Basic Needs Center (BNC), a one-stop-shop that connects students to nutritional food, housing, financial support, and more, was able to provide vital support during the shutdown. Yet requests for emergency assistance continue to increase. The BNC has launched a campaign to raise urgent funds to cover some of the gap already experienced and to help sustain students’ well-being beyond the crisis.
In the first few days, nearly 700 donors gave nearly $120,000. Now a transformative $250,000 challenge gift has been made, and the donors, Anita and Steve Westly, are asking the Cal family to join the challenge and ensure every student has reliable access to nourishing food. A gift of $75 covers a week's worth of groceries for one student, and $300 covers groceries for one month. Every contribution, regardless of its size, has a direct and immediate impact.
Students should not have to make a choice between their health and their education. This moment invites us to step forward with care. Not only do we want our students to be able to focus on their studies instead of their next meal, we want them to know that they deserve to be here and can keep working toward meeting their potential. Thank you for considering a gift to support the thousands of students who need it.
Go Bears!
Chancellor Rich Lyons
Chancellor’s Choice
Event: House to Haas pregame celebration — Join the Cal Alumni Association for music, games, activities, and a live recording of the podcast “Tell the Whole Damn World” before the Cal men’s basketball team plays Sacramento State. The event is also collecting canned goods, rice, pasta, and other foods to support a local food pantry. Friday, Nov. 21, 5–6:30 p.m., Alumni House. Register to attend, and see the list of requested food items.