Yes Food Program

What is the Yes Food Program?

The Yes Food Program is a food and meal assistance program created by Undocumented Student Services with the support of the Basic Need Hub. The program offers eligible undergraduate and graduate students experiencing food insecurity e-gift cards to popular grocery stores, food delivery services, and restaurants. Program support ranges from $100-300 monthly and it is sent directly to the student.

Funded by the State of California, AB 179 Budget Act of 2022-23 and SB-65 Budget Act of 2025, the program specifically supports undocumented students at UC San Diego by providing immediate food security resources. This targeted approach addresses a critical gap for students who may not be eligible for other forms of assistance, such as CalFresh, ensuring they can focus on their academic success. The program’s goal is to ensure that all students have access to food, enabling them to move beyond mere survival and reach their full potential.

Completing the Yes Food Program application allows our team to assess students’ food security level and provide support accordingly. Upon review of the application, students receive an email stating the award amount they will receive along with a list of gift card vendors to choose from.

Eligibility

1. Have AB540 California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption, have a CA Dream Act  Application on file, and are not eligible for the CalFresh program at UC San Diego. 

Note: Graduate students must request confirmation of AB540 status from the Registrar’s Office and may need to submit a CA Dream Act application to demonstrate proof of eligibility.

2. Student must be enrolled in classes at UC San Diego while seeking and receiving program support. 

Note: During the summer, eligibility #2 is waived for students who took classes in the spring quarter and are enrolled for the fall quarter. Students enrolled exclusively in a UC San Diego Extension program or who are visiting students are not eligible for the program. Students who do not meet these qualifications may contact The Hub for support accessing alternative programs.

3. Demonstrates sufficient financial need due to extenuating circumstances, such as inability to access or afford food, unexpected expenses or financial setbacks, or other crisis situations impacting food security.

Students who do not meet the eligibility criteria for Yes Food Program support are encouraged to visit The Hub Basic Needs Center to explore other available resources and support options.

Month-To-Month vs. Three Consecutive Months of Program Support

Eligible students may complete an application at any time to begin receiving support and may reapply monthly to continue to receive the support. 

If the student submits an application and meets with the USS program manager, coordinator, or assistant they will automatically be eligible for three consecutive months of program support. Please note that the meeting must be scheduled in advance—walk-ins will not be accepted. Appointments with an immigration attorney or paralegal do not count toward eligibility.

Notes:
The application and meeting must take place within 30 days of each other. If you want to be considered for the 3-month award, we recommend first meeting with USS program manager, coordinator, or assistant before submitting your Yes Food program application. Students may make an appointment with the USS Graduate Assistant here.

Once your award period ends, you will need to reapply for the program. This applies to both month-to-month and three consecutive month award recipients.

We strongly recommend meeting with our staff to secure three consecutive months of the Yes Food program. The meetings are brief and can be conducted either virtually or in person.

Prorated Program Support

Students may apply for the program at any time during the month to receive support, but their award may be prorated if their application is received after the first week of the month. The student will be notified if this is the case.

Changes to Award and Award Amounts

The support provided by this program is not guaranteed. There is also no guarantee that the award provided will be the same month to month unless the student is receiving the support for three consecutive months. 

YesFood! Application

Students are you interested in applying for the Yes Food program? Apply here! Contact Yes Food Program Manager for additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Yes Food Program?

The Yes Food Program was created by Undocumented Student Services with the support of the Basic Needs Hub to offer undergraduate and graduate students e-gift cards to popular grocery stores, food delivery services, and restaurants as an alternative to CalFresh. 

What Vendors Are Available Through The Yes Food Program?

The vendors available for the 2025-26 school year are: 

Grocery Stores

Ralph's

Food4Less

Restaurants

Applebee's

Baja Fresh

Bibibop Asian Grill

Bj's Restaurant

Blaze Pizza

Boston Market

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Maggiano's Little Italy

Buca di Beppo

Buffalo Wild Wings

Burger King

California Pizza Kitchen

Chipotle

Domino's Pizza

Firehouse Subs

IHop

Jack in the Box

Krispy Kreme

Longhorn Steakhouse

Olive Garden

Outback Steakhouse

Panda Express

Panera Bread

Papa John's Pizza

Red Lobster

Red Robin

Rubio's

Subway

Taco Bell (In App redemption only)

Texas Roadhouse

TGI Friday's

The Cheesecake Factory

Why Was The Yes Food Program Created?

The Yes Food Program aims to ensure that students have access to food if food security is an issue but ideally that households have plenty of food so students do not just survive, but rather thrive and keep their focus on their academics. 

Who Is Eligible For The Award?

Undergraduate and graduate students who are recipients of the CA Dream Act and AB 540 and are not eligibile for the CalFresh program, and attending UC San Diego. 

How Much Does A Student Get Awarded?

Program support ranges from $100-300 monthly and it is sent directly to the student via an electronic gift card. Neither eligibility for financial aid nor financial aid awards are affected by this program.

How Does The Award Amount Get Decided?

The Yes Food program application provides a series of questions that assess the need and food insecurity of the student. Our team has developed a formula to determine the award amount based on the student's responses. We advise students to take their time completing the application and to provide additional context in the designated space whenever necessary. 

How Does One Qualify For 3-month Award Versus A 1-month Award?

Notes:
The application and meeting must take place within 30 days of each other. If you want to be considered for the 3-month award, we recommend first meeting with the program manager, coordinator, or assistant before submitting your Yes Food program application. Students may make an appointment with the Yes Food Program Graduate Assistant here.

Once your award period ends, you will need to reapply for the program. This applies to both month-to-month and three consecutive month award recipients.

We strongly recommend meeting with our staff to secure three consecutive months of the Yes Food program. The meetings are brief and can be conducted either virtually or in person.

Why Was I Awarded A Prorated Amount?

Students can apply for the program at any point during the month to receive support. However, if their application is received after the first week of the month, their award may be prorated. For example, if a student applies for the first time in November and is awarded $200 for the month, but applies during the last week of November, they will receive a prorated amount based on the remaining weeks in the month. Since there are typically four weeks in a month, they would receive $50 if there is only one week left in November. Students will be notified if their award is prorated. 

How Can Students Select Their Vendor Of Choice?

If students are approved to the Yes Food program, students will receive a detailed email stating the amount and the month(s) they are being awarded. In this email, they will also receive a link with a list of vendors to choose from which will include a wide variety of grocery stores, food delivery services, and restaurants both on and off campus. 

When Should Students Reapply?

Students should submit their reapplication for the next month's cycle during the final weeks of the preceding month. For instance, if your last awarded month is November, you should reapply during the last week of November. This ensures that your application will be reviewed in the final week of November, and you will receive aid for the month of December. 

Can Students Receive The Yes Food Program During The Summer?

Yes, the Yes Food program is available year-round. However, students must be enrolled in classes at UC San Diego while seeking and receiving program support. During the summer, this requirement is waived for students who took classes in the previous spring quarter and are enrolled for the upcoming fall quarter. 

Why Do I Need To Submit a Financial Aid Screenshot?

Even though the Yes Food Program award is not processed as a financial aid award, we need to confirm that you have a California Dream Act application and AB 540 on file to ensure you qualify for the Yes Food Program. Having a screenshot of your financial aid package is the only way we can verify this.

Please ensure your screenshot is in PDF format, and follow the steps here to access the file in the correct format: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16B4cs5rCiNLkcoAPWOULE4-03NkARXnD/view. Submitting the screenshot in a format that is not PDF will delay your application process. 

When Should Students Expect To Receive The Award?

The USS team processes gift cards weekly to ensure that students receive their awards by the end of each week. If you have applied to the program and have not received your award or an email from us, please contact us at undoc@ucsd.edu. 

Additional Campus Resources for Food & Housing Insecurity Needs

The Hub Basic Needs Center

Triton Food Pantry

Grocery Shuttle

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