On Friday, November 7, 2025, students gathered at Glendale Community College’s Garfield Campus for a large walk-up food distribution hosted by GCC CARES in partnership with the LA Regional Food Bank. Held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the event provided students with a variety of essential groceries, including meat, vegetables, fruit, canned goods, and bread. The distribution was part of GCC CARES’ ongoing effort to address student food insecurity, a need that continues to grow across both campuses.
GCC CARES has been working with the LA Regional Food Bank since 2020, when food distributions first began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a drive-through event. Tatevik Babayan, Consultant of the GCC CARES Market and GoPass Department and Site Supervisor of the College Corps Program, explained how the partnership developed over time. “We have been working with them since 2020, when it was COVID,” she said. “Since then we are doing this. The motivation is to see all of these people. Every month, more than 800 people we are helping for two locations, like 400 there and more than 400 here.”
Babayan shared that much of the motivation comes from witnessing how students respond to the support. “When you see you are helping them and they are very nice and thankful, that is the motivation,” she said. “We want to help community students get more help for the food and not be hungry, to study more amazing.”
The distribution rotates between two campuses each month. The Main GCC Campus hosts its food bank every first Wednesday, while the Garfield Campus hosts theirs every first Friday. Both locations attract hundreds of attendees, many of whom are juggling full-time course loads alongside limited work hours. “A lot of students have full-time classes and not a lot of time to work full-time,” Babayan said. “So it is extra help for them.”
For this month’s event, the LA Regional Food Bank supplied nine different items for students. “Today they brought nine items,” Babayan said. “It is different every time, different items and different amount.” Due to ongoing financial challenges and the recent EBT system closure, GCC CARES anticipated higher turnout than usual. “Last month we got almost 400,” she said. “But this month we are going to get 500.”
The increase in demand reflects a broader trend across campus. “At the other location, last month we got 280 students,” Babayan said. “And this Wednesday we got 420.”
Managing this level of attendance comes with challenges, particularly when students arrive late or are unsure of the line system. “Honestly, there are a lot,” she said about difficulties during large events. “We have a number system. If you come 1 through 200 before one o’clock, standing in the line, you will get on time. If we already called your number and you are not there, you have to wait a couple minutes.” Babayan often reminds students of the community effort behind the distribution. “What I tell them every time is, ‘This is free food, and your payment is just stay in the line, wait for your turn.’ Help us to help you.”
Beyond monthly distributions, GCC CARES provides ongoing support through the GCC CARES Market. Students enrolled in at least one class can shop weekly for groceries using a point system. “This semester they can get 160 points,” Babayan said. “We get food from Target, Costco, local stores, and we get donations from Trader Joe’s, which is amazing.”
As the event concluded, students left with full bags and a sense of relief. For many, this support means more than just food, but it means stability, dignity, and the reassurance that their college community is committed to their well-being.