Food insecurity is a serious issue on campuses throughout the United States. Often, students go hungry in order to pay for college tuition and school expenses. Knowing it’s difficult to learn on an empty stomach, the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus created the "DEN," a food pantry on campus. It’s a place for any student facing food insecurity who needs a healthy snack or a quick meal.
Students can visit the DEN for food, fresh produce, hygiene items and CalFresh application assistance. The PDC DEN provides currently enrolled students with free food regardless of verified need. The DEN is committed to eliminating barriers, promoting student success, and connecting PDC students with important campus and community resources.
For more information, contact: pdcden@csusb.edu or (909) 537-8173.
Questions about receiving food assistance? We’re here to help!
- The PDC DEN serves to assist CSUSB students who face food insecurity or scarcity.
- The PDC DEN is only available to currently enrolled CSUSB students, including undergraduate, credential, graduate, and doctoral students.
- To be eligible to utilize the services, students must be currently enrolled at CSUSB. Please make sure to bring your CoyoteOne Card to each visit to The PDC DEN. Confidentiality is maintained at all times.
- Our food items come from community partners including the Helping Hands Food Pantry, through departments and student club and organization food drives, as well as in-kind donations.
- The PDC DEN can also help with referrals to on- and off-campus resources.
Summer 2026
The Palm Desert DEN will be closed from May 18, 2026 - August 14, 2026.
Please visit the locations below for food assistance.
Location Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
| Grocery Box Pick UP | |
| Mary Stuart Rogers Gateway Building | RG-203 |
| Snack Stations | |
| Mary Stuart Rogers Gateway Building | RG-203 & RMSC |
| Indian Wells Center for Educational Excellence | IW-102 |
| Palm Desert Health Sciences Building | HS-119 |
Summer Closures
Memorial Day: Monday, May 25, 2026
Juneteenth: Thursday, June 18, 2026
Independence Day: Thursday, July 2, 2026
PDC Mobile Market
The Department of Basic Needs and Student Support partners with Find Food Bank to bring student, staff, faculty, and PDC community members with access to food, household goods and other items.
2026-2027 Dates Coming Soon!
*If you are interested in volunteering at this event contact Natalie Cleary, Senior Basic Needs Coordinator at (909) 537-3993 or by email at ncleary@csusb.edu
Make a Donation
The PDC DEN depends on donations from people like you to provide critical food assistance to members of our campus community in need. You can make a difference!
Make your tax-deductible gift to:
CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation
Attn: PDC DEN
37500 Cook Street
Palm Desert, CA 92211