Typical sources for greeting and grubbing on a budget include fraternity parties for alcohol and pizza at club meetings. Read on to discover more unique Davis institutions that provide both food and fun your wallet will thank you for later.
Hillel House Free Tuesday Lunch328 A StreetTuesday noon to 1 p.m.
Every Tuesday of the school year, Hillel House cooks and serves Kosher food for all to enjoy. The food offered varies from week to week, but popular dishes include pasta, salads and barbeque. Students are welcomed to join in on the cooking, which begins at 10 a.m. and is led by a head chef.
“It’s all home-cooked food,” said Maiya Chard-Yaron, Hillel program director. “We switch it up according to what the students want during the year.”
As a Jewish resource center, Hillel has been opening its doors to the public since 1965. Hillel boasts that they possess the only commercial kosher kitchen in the entire Yolo County, with separate ovens, cookware, dishes and utensils for meat and dairy.
International House Davis Connections Coffee Klatch 10 College Park
Wednesday 10 a.m. to noon
Every Wednesday, International House Davis (I-House) hosts a coffee klatch, also known as “Connections,” where women and children can gather over coffee and cake. The weekly meeting welcomes women from all over the world and one does not have to be a mother to join the conservation.
I-House will also hosting a clothing swap on Sunday, where participants can bring old clothing and exchange it with other swappers. There is a suggested donation of $5 for this event; appetizers will be served. The swap will began at 1 p.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.
I-House is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to welcoming foreign students and scholars. “We try to serve food at most of our events,” said Elisabeth Sherwin, executive director at I-House. “Anyone is welcome to I-House. You don’t have to be an international student. Anyone and everyone is welcome.”
The Pantry21 Lower FreebornMonday through Friday, 8 to 10 a.m.
Monday through Wednesday, 5 to 6 p.m. (tentative)
Students that find themselves short on cash for groceries can look to The Pantry for a selection of non-perishable food. With a valid student ID, partakers can choose up to three different meal items a day.
The available foods are listed online, with the meal points noted next to each item. For example, a loaf of bread is worth two points out of the daily maximum of three. The food options range from granola bars to boxed cereals to canned soups. Many of the items are donations from companies like Campbell’s Soup, Kashi and Malt-O-Meal. The Pantry also accepts community members’ donations of canned goods, non-perishable food, toiletries and money.
“The Pantry is there if you need it,” said Rosa Gonzalez, a senior human development major and the new director at The Pantry. “It was created by the students for the students.”
The Pantry, a campus-wide collaboration between ASUCD, the Community Advising Network under the department of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, came to fruition last year as a direct response to the economic state, coupled with the increasing cost of education for students. By the end of Spring 2011, close to 300 students a week utilized The Pantry.
“We definitely saw an increase in students at the end of the [last] school year, when students were lacking on financial aid,” Gonzalez said.
Tri Co-ops Potlucks
Reagan Hall CircleMonday through Thursday, 7 p.m.
Students interested in meeting the residents of the Tri Co-ops can join their nightly potlucks at 7 p.m. Cooking begins at 5 p.m. and non-residents are welcomed to contribute to the kitchen or the dinner table.
“It’s a way for the community to get to know people that are interested in what we do,” said Anna Ruth Crittenden, a junior sustainable agriculture major and resident of Pierce Co-op. Crittenden applied to live at the Tri Co-ops after attending potlucks herself.
In addition to meeting new people, the meals also allow the residents of the three houses to gather over food. Moreover, potlucks during the early school year are held outside.
The Tri Co-ops are known for their strong sense of community and education about real ife. “Living at the Tri Co-ops is a learning experience, since residents must learn how to operate on consensus,” Crittenden said. “It’s a really unique opportunity for autonomy.”
EVA TAN can be reached at science@theaggie.org.
