Food Assistance

The Department of Basic Needs, under the guidance of Student Equity, offers food assistance to all Coastline students experiencing immediate food insecurity. Support is provided through the Coastline Dolphin Pantry, scheduled Food Box pick-ups, and access to information and application assistance through the CalFresh Program.

Dolphin Food Pantry

The Dolphin Food Pantry supports students' nutritional needs with both perishable and non-perishable items available free of charge through weekly programming and Food Box pick up.

Who is Eligible?

If you are currently enrolled in a 3 credit course, you are eligible to use The Dolphin Pantry.

• Hours of Operation & Locations

  Fall Dolphin Pantry Schedule: 

  Fountain Valley: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 11am - 3pm and Wednesday 1pm - 6pm

  *Students can visit one time per week at the Fountain Valley location.

  Coastline's Student Services Center
  11460 Warner Avenue
  Fountain Valley, CA 92708

  Fall 2025 Dates:

  • August 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28
  • September 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30
  • October 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30
  • November 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26
  • December 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11

  Newport Beach: Every Thursday 11am-1pm

  Coastline's Newport Beach Campus 
  14120 All American Way
  Westminster, CA 92683

  Fall 2025 Dates:

  • August 28
  • September 4, 11, 18, 25
  • October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
  • November 6, 13, 20
  • December 4, 11

  Westminster (Le-Jao): 2nd Tuesday of the month 11am-1pm

  Coastline's Westminster (Le-Jao) Campus
  14120 All American Way
  Westminster, CA 92683

  Fall 2025 Dates:

  • September 9
  • October 14
  • November 4
  • December 9

  *The Le-Jao pantry is dedicated to students taking class(es) at our Westminster campus who cannot make it to our Fountain Valley and/or our Newport Beach Campus for pick up.

  If those days/times do not work, students can email basicneeds@coastline.edu 24 hrs prior to our scheduled delivery dates to schedule an individual grocery pick up.

• Food Pantry Closures

  Fall Schedule (2025)

  Please note, the Dolphin Food Pantry will be closed on the following dates:

  • Monday, September 1 (Labor Day)
  • Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans Day)
  • Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 (Thanksgiving Break)

• Food Box Request

  Schedule with Basic Needs Monday-Friday

  Food Boxes are available beyond the designated Food pantry dates. Food Boxes are non-perishable items and do not include fresh fruits or vegetables. These boxes are based on availability and seasonal inventory. Please note Food Boxes contain non-perishable items such as canned vegetables, dry bags of rice, pasta, breakfast cereal/cereal bars, shelf stable milk alternatives and other alternative items that vary.

  A Food Box can be made available for direct student pick up at Coastline's Newport Beach Campus location. 

  Food Boxes are available to pick up on Monday - Friday between 8am to 5pm at Newport Beach Campus. 

  If you would like to schedule a Food Box pick-up of non-perishable items, you must email basicneeds@coastline.edu at least 24hrs in advance prior to the food distribution at Newport Beach. Please include your first and last name as well as student ID number.

  *Please allow at least 24-hour notice for the Food Box request to be submitted and prepared. You will receive an email confirmation of your request.

CalFresh

CALFRESH APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

What is CalFresh?

CalFresh is a nutrition assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program). CalFresh dollars help stretch a tight food budget and help many people afford to incorporate healthy foods like fruits and vegetables into their diets.

CalFresh is the name of the USDA-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the state of California. Recipients receive and "spend" CalFresh benefits electronically, via personal Golden State Advantage electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards that look just like any other credit or debit cards.

The Basic Needs department at Coastline can support students through the CalFresh Pre-Screening and eligibility process. To make a pre-screening appointment to check your CalFresh eligibility and/or application preparation, email basicneeds@coastline.edu to schedule an appointment. If you're interested in trying it on your own, Click Here! 

• Student Eligibility

   

  Students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Working and earning wages for a minimum of 20 hours each week, or accumulating an average of 80 hours of work per month.
  • Participate in a federal or state work-study program.
  • Receiving Cal Grant A or B.
  • You must be a parent or guardian who has a dependent in the household who is either under 6 years old, or between the ages of 6 and 12 and does not have sufficient childcare.
  • You must be a single parent with a dependent in the household who is under 12 years old, and you must also be enrolled as a full-time student.
  • Participating in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program (CFET) or be a recipient of CalWORKs (TANF).
  • You must be a student who is part of a Local Program that Enhances Employability (LPIE). Please refer to the CalFresh Student Eligibility: List of Approved LPIEs.

Local Resources

Please find additional local food assistance resources below:

• A Free Food Map generated by 211
• CalFresh
• Project Food Box
• Guide to Shelf Stable and Perishable Food Items