Chico State Basic Needs Project
Our Location

Joe Picard, Basic Needs Director
530-898-4098
basicneeds@csuchico.edu

Basic Needs Center Hours
Student Services Center, Room 190
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday-Friday

Pantry Hours
Student Services Center, Room 196
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday-Friday

Mailing Address
Chico State Basic Needs Project
400 W. First St.
Chico, CA 95929-0105

Give a Gift(opens in new window)

Book an Appointment

Services for Student Parents

Chico State Basic Needs provides specialized programs and services for students that are parents and/or guardians.

  • Diapers, wipes and other baby/children’s products are provided in the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry
  • Childcare Assistance Grants: apply for childcare assistance grants if you are facing financial challenges by filing out the application for assistance. 
  • Benefits Assistance – get connected with benefits for parents and/or guardians including WIC, CalWorks, Medi-Cal, Cal Fresh and more.

Basic Needs Parent Resources

  • Diaper Assistance
    The Basic Needs has diapers available in the food pantry and baby wipes upon request.  If you need more assistance, please visit the Application for Assistance.
  • Emergency Grants

    To support Chico State student's basic needs and academic progress towards graduation, the Basic Needs Emergency Grant program assists eligible students experiencing unexpected or extenuating financial challenge.

    To apply for the emergency grant, please visit Application for Assistance.

  • Financial Wellness

    Making Money Moves

    Do you want to learn to do your taxes as a student? Learn the basics of investing? Learn how to pay off student loans and how to make your financial aid stretch out to cover a whole semester? This series is for YOU! We are providing this workshop series both in person and on zoom. A free meal will be provided to those able to make it in person. 

    Financial Wellness Clinic

    The clinic offers financial planning information to students, faculty and staff in the areas of budgeting, credit scores, student loan repayment, retirement planning, and many other areas of personal finance. If you are struggling with financial stress and need someone to talk to, you are welcome to sit down with a resident financial planner or our para-planners to discuss options and formulate a financial plan. To schedule an appointment, please visit Financial Wellness.

Other Campus Resources

  • Lactation Rooms

    The Lactation Support Program encompasses the accommodations available to expecting and new parents, supporting their transition back into the workplace or classes after the birth of their child. Chico State understands the challenges of parenting and is committed to easing the transition through accommodations for employee break times and use of campus lactation spaces.

    Lactating parents have a right to request a reasonable lactation accommodation, including a private space reasonably close to their working and learning environment.

    For more information on locations please visit, lactation rooms lactation spaces.

  • On-Campus Childcare

    The AS Child Development Lab (ASCDL) is an early education and teaching and learning laboratory serving student families at Chico State. The ASCDL serves children ages 2 months to 5 years.

    Infant & Toddler Childcare Application (PDF)

    Preschool Application (PDF)

    For more information, please visit AS Child Development Lab

  • Student Parent Rights
    For more information, please visit Title IX:Pregnant & Parenting Support.

Off-Campus and Community Resources for Parents

  • CalFresh

    CalFresh is a program that helps people be able to purchase food at their local framer's market, grocery stores, or online via an EBT card. 

    For more information, please visit CalFresh. 

  • CalWORKs

    California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, (CalWORKs) is a public assistance program that provides cash aid and services to eligible families that have a child(ren) in the home.

    For more information, please visit CalWORKS. 

  • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

    The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break. If you qualify, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe – and maybe increase your refund. 

    For more information, please visit Earned Income Tax Credit. 

  • Valley Oaks Children's Center

    Valley Oak Children's Services assist low-income parents in paying for child care costs as parents work, attend school, or enter a training program.

    For more information, please visit Valley Oak Children's Services.

  • WIC

    Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program that provides no-cost services to Women, Infants, and Children. The Butte County Public Health WIC Program has been providing WIC services to families who live in and around Butte County since 1976. WIC offers a variety of services to help support families make healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices.

    WIC services include:

    • Monthly food benefits for purchasing healthy foods
    • Nutrition education and information for a child’s stage of growth
    • Breastfeeding support
    • Special checks to be used at the farmers’ markets in the summer
    • Referrals to other community and healthcare resources.

    For more information, please visit WIC.

  • 2-1-1

    For a continued list of resources in our area please call 2-1-1.

    For more information, please visit Help Central 2-1-1.