The expansive food pantry is part of the UC Global Food Initiative, a three-year push to tackle the problem of food insecurity, both at home and abroad. A 2016 survey found that 1 in 4 University of California students lack a consistent source of nutritious food. As more college students struggle with food insecurity and hunger, UC Irvine opens one of the largest food pantries in the nation. At UC Irvine, students approved a fee of $3 per quarter last year to help needy students obtain nutritious food. UC Irvine first opened a food pantry offering nonperishable items in 2015.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 28, 2017 03:44 UTC