The Basic Needs Program at Los Angeles Pierce College is dedicated to supporting students by connecting them to services and resources that address food insecurity, housing instability, and other essential needs within the Pierce College community. The program has established several resources designed to meet students where they are — offering support in a judgment-free, welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable seeking help. The Brahma Bodega, the campus food pantry, provides students with daily snacks, shelf-stable food options, and ready-made meals, and is available to all currently enrolled students at no cost. In partnership with Student LunchBox, the Basic Needs Program hosts a bi-monthly food distribution event called the Fresh Bodega. Open to both the Pierce College community and the surrounding local community, the Fresh Bodega provides participants with shelf-stable food items and fresh produce, expanding access beyond the campus gates. Through the SLB Closet Program, also in collaboration with Student LunchBox, the program provides brand-new clothing items and essentials, including personal hygiene products, dental hygiene supplies, and cosmetics, to students several times throughout each semester. The Basic Needs Program also works to educate students about government benefits they may be eligible for, including CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and General Relief. Staff members are available to answer questions, guide students through the application process, and help them access programs that may make a meaningful difference in their daily lives. The program strongly believes in leveraging every available resource on behalf of the students it serves. For students navigating housing insecurity, the program connects individuals directly with community-based organizations, including LA Family Housing, Hope the Mission, and Village Family Services, all of which serve the San Fernando Valley and provide a range of housing support, from shelter referrals to rapid rehousing programs. The Basic Needs Program at Los Angeles Pierce College serves thousands of students every semester, with over 100 students visiting the Brahma Bodega daily. The program is staffed by a dedicated team that includes student workers, volunteers, a program intern, a program assistant, a program coordinator, and a program dean, all committed to helping students succeed. Research supports what the team sees every day: students who access basic needs services succeed at higher rates than the overall student population, and those registered with the program earn degrees and certificates at greater rates as well. At the end of the day, the Basic Needs Program at Los Angeles Pierce College exists because it is simply harder to focus in class or on anything when you are hungry, worried about your next meal, or uncertain about where you will sleep. By addressing these gaps with compassion and purpose, the program helps students show up, stay enrolled, and reach their academic goals.