Basic Needs
**For Students Impacted by CalFresh Disruption due to Government Shutdown**
Coa Basic Needs has put together a list of local community resources that could be helpful with expanding your access to food and meals during the disruption in your benefits. View or download that document HERE.
Additionally, Basic Needs Centers on ALL Peralta Campuses are working to prioritize food support for the students impacted by the disruption to CalFresh Benefits. Students can apply for temporary financial assistance for food benefits by submitting an application HERE
Basic Needs at College of Alameda takes a holistic, student-centered approach to helping students with the basics, so that they can focus on their education. Our services include three pillar programs: The Market, Tasty Tuesday, and The Boutique. When available, we also distribute: Emergency Food Grants, Emergency Aid, Wi-Fi Hot Spots, and we help connect students to other Basic Needs resources both within and outside the CoA community.
Information on our short-term, more immediate services can be found below. For more long-term, sustained services, please review this Resource Guide.
EMERGENCY FOOD GRANT
Grant Amount: $300.00, one-time grant provided as a gift cards for Safeway
Purpose: Groceries
To Apply: Complete the online form HERE
Eligibility Requirements:
- Home campus must be College of Alameda
- Must be enrolled in at least three (3) units at College of Alameda
- Have not received Emergency Food Grant in prior semesters
- High school special enrollment students are NOT eligible for Emergency Food Grants
Contact: Jeremy Simmons, Basic Needs Coordinator, jsimmons@peralta.edu
STUDENT ASSISTANCE GRANTS
This collection of short-term reoccurring grants range in amount from $50 to $100, depending on the type of grant. Students can apply for multiple grants, but can only receive a maximum of two per semester and are not eligible to receive the same grant multiple times per semester.
All grants below require students to be enrolled in at least 3 units at CoA, and they must have CoA as their home campus. Additional grant requirements:
TRANSPORTATION GRANT ($100 per semester)
Intended to help student with their commute to campus
$100 Gas Card or Clipper Card (Student’s Choice)
Apply HERE
SCHOOL SUPPLIES GRANT ($50 per semester)
Intended to help students with school supplies
$50 gift card to CoA bookstore
Apply HERE
** WHILE SUPPLIES LAST & NOT GUARANTEED **
QUESTIONS?
Contact Jeremy Simmons, Basic Needs Coordinator: jsimmons@peralta.edu
The Market at CoA
The Market is a bi-monthly outdoor where students* can pick-up free fresh produce and select grocery items on the
2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month while classes are in session.
Time: 11:30am-1:30pm
Location: Behind the Student Center / F-Building
*Students should bring a valid student ID with current term sticker and reusable shopping bags
THE BOUTIQUE
The Boutique is an extension of the on-campus pantry and offers a variety of free, gently used clothing items and
accessories. The Boutique is primarily supplied via donations; so items are available to students on a first-come, first
served basis.
Time: 10am – 4pm Every Day (except Tuesday)
Location: Room F122 – Student Center / F-Building (1st Floor)
One Stop Shop at CoA is just that, one place on-campus where students can stop-in and shop for:
• Grocery Basics, Fresh Produce, and occasionally Eggs and Frozen Meat products
• Personal Care and Hygiene Items
• Gently used Clothing, Shoes, and assorted random Knick-Knacks
Time: 10am – 4pm Every Day (except Tuesday)
Location: Room F122 – Student Center / F-Building (1st Floor)
CoA DIAPER BANK
Students currently enrolled at CoA can request a supply of diapers in a variety of sizes (with wipes) on a monthly-basis by submitting the request form HERE.
- Strict Limits of 2 Packs of Diapers and 2 Packs of Wipes – per child / per household / per month
- Students must have valid Student ID card with Current Term Sticker
- Diapers are only available while supplies last and will be distributed on first-come, first-served basis. Diaper availability is not guaranteed.
- Students must submit request in-advance – We will contact student by email when diapers are ready for pick-up
- Diaper Pick-ups will primarily be held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, with more days added if staffing permits.
WI-FI HOT SPOTS
A limited number of internet wi-fi hot spot devices are available to students enrolled in at least one online course — hot spots are checked-out to students on a first-come, first served basis and are not guaranteed to be available.
Submit a request using this online request form.
The COA Library has Chromebooks for Checkout
Registered COA students may check out a Chromebook from the Library for the entire semester. For more information, visit the College of Alameda Library.
our contacts
Jeremy Simmons
Basic Needs Coordinator
E: jsimmons@peralta.edu
L: Building F, First Floor