Support Student Basic Needs!
An advocate, a supporter, a navigator and a trusted friend — the Hub Basic Needs Center is all of these and more for undergraduate and graduate students who need a helping hand at a critical time. The Hub offers a comprehensive support system, providing immediate crisis intervention services and linking students to long-term resources that support self-sufficiency.
Our goal: to ensure all students have enough to eat, a safe place to sleep, and the capacity to focus on their education without undue financial stress.
Here's how you can make a difference:
⟫ Make a Gift
Your gift will help provide students with nutritious, no-cost food, temporary emergency housing, and/or financial crisis support, ensuring they have the resources to focus on their education. Give today.
Ways to Give
Credit Card
- Online: Make a gift using our secure online platform.
- By phone: Call Tiffany Ayres, Director of Development at (858) 287-0966.
By Check
- Make Check Payable to: "UC San Diego Foundation"
- Memo Line: Write "E6578"
- Mail to: UC San Diego Gift Processing
9500 Gilman Drive #0940
La Jolla, CA 92093-0940
Payroll Deduction (for UC San Diego Employees)
- Make a gift via recurring payroll deduction using our secure online platform.
- Select a dollar amount
- Under "Make This Gift" select "Recurring"
- Under "Payment Type" select "Payroll Deduction"
- You will be asked to log in using SSO
- Complete the remaining prompts and click "Submit"
Email onlinegift@ucsd.edu with any questions or to stop a payroll deduction.
Other Strategic ways to give that offer extra tax benefits to donors:
- Appreciated Securities (stocks, mutual funds, and cryptocurrency)
- Please contact Tiffany Ayres at tayres@ucsd.edu with the security's name you are interested in donating and we will guide you through next steps.
- Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs
- For donor over the age of 70 ½ - gifts from IRAs, also known as QCDs, are an easy way to support The Hub with the added benefit of avoiding recognition of income and satisfying the required minimum distribution if they are also over 73.
- Donor Advised Funds
- Real Estate
- And more!
For more information, contact Tiffany Ayres, Director of Development at tayres@ucsd.edu or (858) 287-0966.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes. Gifts to The Hub - Basic Needs Initiatives Fund and the Triton Food Pantry Fund are accepted and processed by the UC San Diego Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation (Tax ID #95-2872494). Your gift qualifies for tax-deduction in accordance with IRS regulations during the calendar year that you make your gift. You will receive a gift receipt for your files. Consult your tax professional for more information.
Who can I contact to if I have questions about making a gift?
For assistance, please contact Tiffany Ayres, Director of Development, at tayres@ucsd.edu or (858) 287-0966.
How do I find out if my employer has a matching gift program?
Want to amplify the impact of your gift even more? Many companies match donations made by their employees (and sometimes even retirees or employees' spouses). Check if an employer is a participating company and view its specific matching gift forms, guidelines and instructions by using the search box below.If employer information is not available using this search tool, please contact the company to see if it has a matching gift program. If required to submit a hard copy of a matching gift form, please mail it to the following address:
UC San Diego Gift Services
9500 Gilman Drive # 0940
La Jolla, CA 92093-0940
⟫ Donate In-Kind Items
You can also make an impact by donating shelf-stable food, personal hygiene products, household goods, and/or kitchen essentials. See below for in-kind donation needs.
Food Donations
We welcome donation of non-perishable food items that are sealed and shelf-stable. Items can be dropped off at the Triton Food Pantry during hours of operations.
In demand items include:
- Dry or canned beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc.)
- Canned tuna or chicken
- Dry pasta and rice (white or brown)
- Oats and cereal
- Shelf-stable milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- Chicken, beef or vegetable stock
- Canned proteins (Spam, Vienna sausages)
- Infant and toddler formula
- Stage 2 baby food
Note: We unfortunately cannot accept damaged, punctured moldy or non-labeled food items.
For assistance, please contact Beatriz Chavez Vega, food programs coordinator, at bchavezvega@ucsd.edu.
Personal Hygiene Products
Support the Personal Hygiene Program by donating personal care items—drop off items at The Hub or shop our Amazon Wish List. In-demand items include:
Body and Oral Care
- Bar Soap (1,500)
- Facial Soap (1,500)
- Specialty Hair Care | Aunt Jackie’s, Shea Moisture (2,500)
- Shampoo (1,500)
- Conditioner (1,500)
- 2-in-1 Dandruff Shampoo + Conditioner (1,500)
- Razor (1,500)
- Floss (1,500)
- Adult Toothbrush (900)
- Adult Toothpaste (900)
- Child Toothbrush (fulfilled)
- Child Toothpaste (fulfilled)
- Deodorant (2,000)
- Lotion (2,000)
- Sunscreen (2,000)
- Chapstick (1,800)
Menstrual & Reproductive Health
- Non-sustainable Panty Liners (1,000)
- Sustainable Panty Liners (1,000)
- Non-sustainable Menstrual Pads | Size 1, Size 4 (2,000)
- Non-sustainable Tampons | Regular, Super (1,000)
- Sustainable Menstrual Cups | S, M, L (4,000)
- Sustainable Menstrual Pads | Regular, Overnight (2,000)
- Sustainable Menstrual Tampons | Regular, Super (1,000)
- Sustainable Menstrual Underwear | S, M, L (1,000)
- Condoms (700)
Household & Everyday Essentials
- Laundry Detergent (fulfilled)
- Laundry Dryer Sheets (2,000)
- Dish Soap (fulfilled)
- Hand Soap (fulfilled)
- Toilet Tissue (2,500)
- Pocket Tissue (1,500)
- Gallon Ziplock (400)
- Sandwich Ziplock (2,500)
- Plastic Gloves (100)
- Travel Bottles (6,000)
- Paper Bags (3,600)
- Socks (1,500)
- Blanket (1,500)
- Travel Size Hand Sanitizer (2,000)
Infant & Family Care
- Baby Wipes (800)
- Infant & Toddler Formula (200)
- Stage 2 Baby Food (200)
Note: Items marked “fulfilled” indicate needs that have already been met through generous donations.
.For assistance, contact Maria Carmen Gonzalez, Basic Needs Program Coordinator, at mcg008@ucsd.edu.
Household & Kitchen Essentials
We accept gently used items in clean, working condition including:
- Small pots/pans
- Cutlery
- Mugs
- Small lamps
- Dish racks
- Small rice cookers
- Small dorm supplies
Note: We do not accept furniture or office chairs.
Please drop off at The Hub - Basic Needs Center during hours of operations (see below)
Drop-Off Locations - Hours of Operation
Food Donations: please drop off at the Trtion Food Pantry.
Other Essential Items (non-food): please drop off at The Hub Basic Needs Center
Be sure to check out our hours of operations before coming by!
⟫ Host a Food or Essentials Drive
Consider encouraging your friends, coworkers, and community members to donate shelf-stable food and other essential items from the list above. Need help? Contact Maria Carmen Gonzalez, Basic Needs Program Coordinator, at mcg008@ucsd.edu.
Food Drive
Interested in hosting a drive? Here's how:
-
Collect nonperishable food items or essential
Encourage your team, coworkers or community members to donate shelf-stable items from the list above. -
Sort donation (if possible)
Please separate items into cans and non-cans to help pantry staff process donations and get them on the shelves faster. - Drop off donations at either of the following the Triton Food Pantry locations during hours of operations:
Have question or need other resources to support your food drive? Contact contact Beatriz Chavez Vega, food programs coordinator, at bchavezvega@ucsd.edu.
