by Cassandra L. Hernandez, College of Alameda student

At College of Alameda, every Tuesday, students line up with their IDs in hand to receive bags of food and lunches, all for free! Tasty Tuesday is part of our Basic Needs services and goes on from 11:30am to 1:30pm. They’re located at the F-Buildings either outside or inside and provide you with your very own tote bag to help carry all the produce they have to offer.

When you walk up to the table, you’re asked to present your student ID – which must have a valid, current semester sticker – and they scan it for you. After that, you’re guided to a table with signs that tell you what they’re offering and how much you can take. They offer many things such as rice, canned food, vegetables, and fruits.

When they’re not offering groceries, they’re offering lunch with a drink of your choice. You head inside the F-Building or “Student Center” building and present your valid student ID. “Everything we serve comes from [CoA’s] backyard,” said Jeremey Simmons, the Coordinator of the Basic Needs Services. “We try to partner with local businesses…After COVID hit, we’ve been trying to help our community out.” Each Tuesday, they try to have variety in the food they offer, especially during festivities. For example, for Hispanic Heritage Month, they served food from Hispanic kitchens.

Tasty Tuesday is held exclusively at College of Alameda, although it’s not the only service that Basic Needs hosts. They have the “One-Stop Shop” and “The Market”, where students can come in and shop around for groceries. One-Stop Shop is every day except Tuesdays from 10am to 4pm. The Market is a bi-monthly outdoor market with fresh, free, and delicious produce, from 11:30am to 1:30pm. They also have the “Boutique Shop”, where students can shop for gently-used clothing and other varieties of accessories, all locally donated! It goes on at the same time as “One-Stop Shop” (10am - 4pm, every day).