Peralta students now have a new option for convenient, discounted hot meals on campus. In partnership with Peralta District leadership, Foodture, a robotic hot food vending company, has installed hot food vending machines at each campus. Foodture machines offer chef-prepared hot meals for around $5 with easy payment options including credit/debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
On February 10, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson was joined by a strong PCCD cohort, including Basic Needs Coordinators Izzie Villanueva, Katrina Santos, and Jeremy Simmons, and student leaders from BCC and Laney, in representing the Peralta Community College District at the California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance (CHEBNA) Summit in Sacramento. This vital intersegmental convening, held in partnership between California Community Colleges and the CSU and UC systems, brought together over 800 leaders, practitioners, and students to focus on transforming how colleges address food & housing insecurity, mental health, and financial stability.
As students return to College of Alameda’s campus for the Spring 2026 semester, CoA is proud to spotlight the wide range of services that support students throughout their academic journeys. One program of particular significance is the Basic Needs program, which has recently expanded its offerings to better serve the campus community.
On Friday, December 5th, PCCD Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson joined an especially strong contingent of representatives from the Peralta Colleges at this year’s Basic Needs Summit at Napa Valley College.
It has been a heavy season — in our region, in our nation, and in higher education itself. The deployment of federal agents to Coast Guard Island, the threats to undocumented and mixed-status families, and the dismantling of Federal programs like HSI, AANAPISI, and TRIO funding hit close to home. They are more than policy decisions; they are an assault on the very idea of education as liberation — as a pathway to belonging, dignity, and opportunity.
Editor's Update: The article below was originally emailed to students and posted here on October 31st. As of November 7th, GOOD NEWS! CalFresh / SNAP / EBT benefits are becoming fully reinstated in California. You can read more about it from the California Governor's site here.
If you have ever been on College of Alameda's campus, chances are you have seen a small table outside of the Student Center with a wide variety of groceries. Maybe you’ve been inside the building and saw a long table with various containers full of tasty food.
Karin Nguyen from Merritt College emphasizes her love of Merritt's services and students. She explains that Merritt College's food pantry and its supplies, such as clothing and basic necessities, are very helpful for students' daily usage. She very much enjoys what Merritt College offers and is proud to be a Merritt student.
We at the Peralta Colleges care about your success as a student. You are invited to participate in a survey to help us better understand the challenges students face while attending college and to learn more about how students overcome these challenges. Starting March 3, 2025, the 2025 Real College Student Basic Needs Survey is open to all California Community College students, including here at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College. Your participation is your chance to directly influence the support you receive and make a real difference in your college experience.
