CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Receives $25K to Expand Food Access

Grant will allow university to increase grocery items and add refrigeration at campus food pantry.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 12:42am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Cal State San Bernardino's Palm Desert campus has received a $25,000 grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation to expand services at its DEN food pantry. The funding will allow the campus to increase the availability of grocery items and add a refrigerator near the Rancho Mirage Student Center, helping to address food insecurity among students.

Why it matters

Food insecurity can negatively impact a student's academic performance, physical health, and mental well-being. This grant allows the Palm Desert campus to enhance an existing program that provides critical resources to students in need, supporting their overall success.

The details

The Impact Grant from the Berger Foundation will be used to expand the DEN food pantry's inventory and add a refrigerator near the Rancho Mirage Student Center. The success of the program will be measured through distribution data, restocking trends, and student feedback.

  • The grant was announced on March 27, 2026.

The players

CSUSB Palm Desert Campus

The California State University, San Bernardino campus located in Palm Desert, California.

H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation

A charitable foundation that awarded the $25,000 grant to the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus to expand its food pantry services.

Edna Martinez

The associate vice president of the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus.

Catharine Reed

The vice president of charitable programs for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Food insecurity can directly affect a student's academic performance, physical health and mental well-being. This grant from the Berger Foundation allows us to improve and expand existing resource for our students while they are attending classes at the Palm Desert campus.”

— Edna Martinez, Associate Vice President, CSUSB Palm Desert Campus

“We appreciate that leaders at the Cal State San Bernardino, Palm Desert campus were thoughtful in finding ways to expand a program that addresses students' needs.”

— Catharine Reed, Vice President of Charitable Programs, H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation

What’s next

The campus plans to measure the success of the expanded food pantry program through distribution data, restocking trends, and student feedback.

The takeaway

This grant will allow the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus to enhance its existing food pantry program, providing critical resources to students facing food insecurity and supporting their overall academic success and well-being.