Riverside City College Receives $50,000 Grant from Stater Bros. Charities to Support Food Pantry

Riverside City College has received a $50,000 grant from Stater Bros. Charities to strengthen the RCC Food Pantry and expand direct support for students experiencing food insecurity.

The grant was celebrated during a check presentation on Friday, September 18, at Riverside City College. The event brought together RCC students, Food Pantry staff, college leadership and members of the Stater Bros. Charities team to recognize the longstanding partnership and its continued investment in student well-being.

“This grant allows us to do more than provide food. It allows us to meet students where they are and help ensure that a lack of access to nutritious food does not become another barrier to completing their education,” said Desiree Rivera, Director of Basic Needs at Riverside City College. “Our Food Pantry is a place where students can access essential resources while also knowing that their college community cares about their well-being. We are grateful to Stater Bros. Charities for recognizing the importance of this work and investing directly in our students.”

Since 2017, Stater Bros. Charities has supported Riverside Community College District programs that help students overcome barriers to academic success. The organization’s team toured the RCC Food Pantry earlier this year and saw firsthand the impact of the program on students.

“We live out our Community First purpose through Stater Bros. Charities, our non-profit arm which uplifts Southern California Communities by investing in local nonprofits that provide hands on support,” said Charlotte Wall, Community Relations Manager for Stater Bros. Markets. “RCC provides that support every day here on campus. Today’s donation is important, but your dedication makes a lasting difference; helping students gain access to food and essential resources with compassion while removing barriers to success.”

RCC Food Pantry services have become an increasingly important resource for students balancing the costs of education, housing, food and other necessities. The grant will help strengthen the pantry and expand the college’s ability to provide direct support to students facing food insecurity.

“Student success is about more than what happens inside the classroom,” said Riverside City College President, Eric Bishop, Ed.D. “Our students are working, caring for families and navigating many responsibilities while pursuing their educational goals. This generous support from Stater Bros. Charities strengthens our ability to meet students’ basic needs and reminds our students that their community is standing with them. We are grateful for a partnership that has continued for nearly a decade and for Stater Bros. Charities’ investment in the success and well-being of our students.”

RCCD Foundation Executive Director Jeffry Kaatz said the grant demonstrates the impact that community partnerships can have on students.

“Partnerships like the one we have with Stater Bros. Charities make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students,” said Kaatz. “This $50,000 grant provides an important investment in the RCC Food Pantry and helps us respond to a very real need among our students. We are grateful to Stater Bros. Charities for its continued commitment to RCCD and for recognizing that supporting students’ basic needs is an important part of helping them reach their educational goals.”

Stater Bros. Markets began in Yucaipa, California, in 1936 and has grown into one of Southern California’s largest privately owned supermarket chains. Through Stater Bros., the company has contributed more than $80 million in food and funds since 2008 to support hunger relief, education, children’s well-being, health, veterans and first responders.

The grant reinforces the shared commitment of Riverside City College and Stater Bros. Charities to addressing food insecurity and supporting educational opportunity throughout the Inland Empire. By strengthening the RCC Food Pantry, the funding will help provide students with greater access to resources as they pursue their academic and career goals.

About Stater Bros. Charities

Stater Bros. Charities is a community-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and philanthropic arm of Stater Bros. Markets that supports the critical needs in the communities where Stater Bros. teammates and customers live and work. Our mission is to uplift Southern California communities through fundraising and investing in local nonprofits that provide hands-on support. As a passionate community partner, we champion and advance nonprofit goals with a focus on hunger relief, children’s well-being, education, health, care for veterans, active service members and first responders, as well as pet well-being. Since 2008, Stater Bros. Charities has invested over $54 million in numerous local organizations and causes, thanks to the generosity of our customers, supplier friends, and caring members of the Stater Bros. Markets Team.