Food Pantry

• Registered students for our services will receive a $50 electronic gift card. The e-Gift Cards can be used to purchase groceries.
• Your  e-Gift Card(s) may be used in-person at Walmart & Sam's Club and online at walmart.com.
• Use your full balance: Receipts will not be approved  if there is more than $3 remaining on your gift card or combine gift cards with anyone.

**IMPORTANT: Distributions dates may change or be canceled depending on funding or supply availability. 

Food Pantry Registration Instructions

1. Applications Open:

• Spring Application: Will be live April 6
  
• Applications are processed during the third week of the quarter. 
• IMPORTANT: Spring 2026 there will only be THREE gift card distributions. 
  • • • April 23
      • May 21
      • June 18

2. How to Register: 

Complete the online registration form

• Application needs to be completed every quarter.
• Your enrollment and email address will be verified. 
• Important: Use the same email as the one listed in MyPortal. 

3. After Registration: 

• Once your information is verified, you'll be added to the next distribution date (see below)
• You will receive an e-Gift Card to purchase groceries

4. Submit Your Receipt: 

• After using your e-Gift Card, submit your grocery receipt.
• Receipts will be verified to ensure purchase was for food items only.
• Once approve, you'll be eligible for the next distribution date. 

Returning Food Pantry Students

1. Please ensure you have sent all your eGift Card shopping receipts to us with your 8-digit Foothill Student CWID  to email foodpantry@foothill.edu
   
2. Register for the current quarter you want to receive food pantry benefits. You must reapply every quarter.

Distribution Dates: Winter 2026

Note: Grocery gift cards will ONLY be distributed on the following distribution dates. Distribution dates subject to change or cancelled due to funding or change in supply. 

• January 22
• February 19
• March 12

Cards are sent by the end of the day of the distribution date. This allows students to register or turn in receipts.

Note: The Owls Nest Foothill Pantry is not able to give retroactive cards.

• Please submit your receipt/s as soon as possible to be added to the next distribution.
• Receipts are due no later than 12:00pm on the day of distribution to allow time to process them. Receipts submitted after 12:00pm on the day of distribution will not be processed in time for that date's distribution, which means you will miss receiving a grocery card. *Note that this does not mean that you need to submit the receipt same day you receive an egift card. You have 3-4 weeks to make a purchase and submit your receipt. 
• Failure to submitting receipts will result in not receiving an e-card until a receipt is received by food pantry staff, and once we receive the receipts, we will add you to the next distribution date. The receipt should only reflect the gift card you were issued. You cannot combine gift cards and if you need to pay anything extra, make sure to separate transactions. 

Purchasing non-food items with the e-Card is not permitted.

• The purchase on non-food items, alcohol or tobacco, will result in loss of continued access to Food Pantry services.

Community Resources at the Owl's Nest
The Owls Nest connects students to essential community resources, including CalFresh food assistance, local food banks, emergency services, and more. Whether you need help with groceries, housing, or health care, we’re here to guide you with care and support.

For more information click here.

Find out if you're eligible for CalFresh!

• Monthly cash assistance for purchasing food
• Provided via EBT debit card (looks like any other debit card)
• Use it to buy groceries and fresh produce at participating stores, restaurants and farmers' markets

To find out if you qualify, get help with your application, or extend your eligibility, you can ask questions or get help via Zoom with a Foothill staff member.

Please reach out to Sonia Sánchez at sanchezsantoyosonia@fhda.edu

 

Before you make the purchase, you can either

1. Email us at foodpantry@fhda.edu or stop by our office and share the item with us to confirm it will or will not be eligible or
2. We roughly follow SNAP guidelines. If you use SNAP and the gift card to pay, make sure all items are eligible or you will lose gift card eligibility.