Dear donors,

Thank you so much for helping to provide gift cards to students facing financial hardships and food insecurity through the CPO Basic Needs Gift Card Program. 

More than 125 donors have contributed over $63,000, which provided 754 students with gift cards in Spring quarter. We were proud to serve a diverse population of students most impacted by COVID-19 and lost wages. Some key figures of our students served:

- 67% undergrads and 32% graduate students

- 31% transfer students

- 74% students of color

- 53% first-generation college students

As we continue to serve students through the summer and prepare for an academic year unlike any other, we know that the need for these gift cards will persist. Many students will still be unable to work and have challenges paying for groceries on top of school and housing expenses.

Please consider sharing this campaign with your networks or making an additional gift if you are able. Thank you again for your ongoing support of UCLA students. 

A few messages from students:

"These gift cards have helped me purchase essential needs for my baby such as diapers and wipes which are very expensive during these rough times. I feel extremely relieved both economically and mentally to know that I still have some income to provide for my family and for that I am grateful!"

"I just got the card today, and it's just in time! These gift cards have been helping my family save extra money to get bills paid. Mentally, I was able to stress less about whether or not we have enough food for the week, and so I was able to focus on studying for midterms! Thank you so much!"

"I am so grateful. Thank you. I don't have a car and shopping for food during COVID has been difficult. I used to go grocery shopping with friends, but social distancing has made that impossible. With these cards, I was able to not only buy items but have it shipped. Thank you for providing equity for UCLA students."

Dear Donors,

Thanks to you, we have surpassed our goal of 100 supporters to the CPO Food Closet and raised over $58,000. Every dollar will be used to address the needs of Bruins experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity as a result of COVID-19. That's more than 780 grocery store gift cards for students.

We know there will be a continued need for the virtual gift cards provided by the CPO Food Closet so that students can have access to healthy food and basic needs throughout the summer. As a result, we are introducing a stretch goal of 200 donors. We are humbled by your optimism and your unwavering support of our students. Thank you for ensuring we can continue to support UCLA students.

You've already done so much just by making a contribution. Please consider sharing the #BruinStrong Spark projects using the built-in buttons at the top of each project page. In this unprecedented time of need, every share keeps UCLA #BruinStrong. Thank you again for your incredible support of the UCLA community, and for being our partner.  

We thank you for sharing our link spark.ucla.edu/CPOFoodCloset with your friends and family.

Thank you so much for supporting the UCLA Community Programs Office (CPO) Food Closet. We have been humbled by the community’s response to aid our efforts in addressing students’ basic needs.

Following the “Safer at Home” orders issued by Governor Newsom and Mayor Garcetti, all classes and campus functions have transitioned online. The CPO Food Closet—which has physically operated since 2009—has temporarily transitioned to the CPO Online Food Closet in order to discourage students from frequently leaving their homes to pick up food. The CPO Online Food Closet’s main resource is the Basic Needs Gift Card Program. These gift cards make it safer and easier for students to purchase groceries and other necessities during this time. This program also supports the health of our staff by limiting their exposure. 

You’ve already helped us so much, and we hope that tomorrow, Tuesday May 5th, you’ll join us in #GivingTuesdayNow. #GTN is a global day of giving created in direct response to the COVID-19 crisis. You can help us by spreading the word on social media and sharing the link to this campaign spark.ucla.edu/CPOFoodCloset with your friends and family. 

Thank you for inspiring us and keeping us #BruinStrong!