Food on table
Campus walkway with banners

AVC Food Resources

The Basic Needs Center offers students several food options.

Shop at the Marauder Marketplace

  • Basic Needs Center (T-100)
  • Monday-Thursday: 7:30 am. to 6 p.m.
  • Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

To receive this service a student must meet the following qualifications:

  • Currently receiving, have applied for, or are working towards applying for CalFresh benefits.
  • Applied for the current semester and received an email approval from the Basic Needs Center.

Once a student applies via the current semester's Basic Needs Application, they are given a point allotment based on the amount of units they are in this semester. 

  • 12+ units and a 2.0 GPA: 40 points/week
  • 9–11 units and a 2.0 GPA: 30 points/week
  • 6–8 units and a 2.0 GPA: 20 points/week
  • 3-5 units and a 2.0 GPA: 10 points/week
  • Students with less than a 2.0 semester/cumulative GPA: 10 points/week

Points can be adjusted during the semester as students add and drop classes. We run registration reports to ensure your point values match your current class load. If a student drops below 3 units they will no longer be eligible to shop at our Marketplace.

  • Points are given each week and cannot be rolled over or saved.

  • Only approved students can pick up items, a student cannot send someone in their place.

  • Students cannot take excessive amounts of a few items. You should select a variety to ensure all students get the chance to try different items.

  • Please bring your own bag to carry the items in. Our office does not have bags to give to students on a daily/weekly basis.

  • We have baskets to utilize while selecting your items. We ask that you spend less than 15 minutes to ensure our space does not become too crowded. Once you have selected your items, you can check out with our student workers at the front counter. Students may be asked to wait if the space has too many shoppers or if our team is restocking items, to allow for safety. 

If you do not meet unit qualifications to shop at our Marauder Marketplace you can still receive fresh produce from our bi-weekly Produce Pick-Up Distribution as long as you are currently enrolled.

Basic Needs Invites AVC to the Produce Pick-Up

Free to All AVC Students, Staff and Faculty. Please bring your AVC ID and your own bag to receive fresh produce (while supplies last). Walk-up ONLY.

Printable 2025 Schedule - English

Printable 2025 Schedule - Spanish

2025 Schedule
January 9 • January 23
February 6 • February 20
March 13 • March 27
April 10 • April 24
May 8 • May 22
June 12 • June 26
July 10 • July 24
August 7 • August 21
September 11 • September 25
October 9 • October 23
November 6 • November 20
December 4 • December 18

Lancaster Campus

  • Basic Need Center (T-100)
  • Student Start Time: 10 a.m.
  • Staff Start Time: 11 a.m.

Palmdale Center

  • Palmdale Center Sidewalk
  • Student and Staff Start Time: 11 a.m.

Apply to CalFRESH

We encourage all AVC students to apply for CalFresh to receive monthly funds for food.

How does it work?

  1. After applying for CalFRESH, you will receive an call within a week or two for an eligibility interview.
  2. If approved, you will get an EBT card for groceries within 10 days.
  3. EBT cards work in most food stores and farmers’ markets.
     

Apply for CalFRESH

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Basic Needs Invites AVC to the Produce Pick-Up
Free to All currently enrolled AVC Students, Staff and Faculty.