Addressing Student Success from the Ground Up: New Basic Needs Center Has “Soft Opening”

Porterville College (PC) is excited to announce the soft opening of our new, centralized Basic Needs Center, now located in AC-105. This move is a major step forward in PC's commitment to supporting student success by directly addressing critical barriers like food insecurity and housing instability.

For many college students, the pursuit of a degree is often complicated by a lack of fundamental resources. When students worry about their next meal or where they will sleep, their ability to concentrate in class, complete assignments, and ultimately achieve their academic goals is severely impacted. Addressing these needs is fundamental to fostering a successful learning environment.

The Basic Needs Center is now home to the Pirate Pantry

We are thrilled to let you know that our essential food assistance program, the Pirate Pantry, has moved and is now integrated as a core service within the new Basic Needs Center at AC-105. The Pantry reopened on Monday, October 20, 2025, and will serve as the hub for students needing access to basic resources.

To access the center and its resources, students should note the following updates:

• PC Student ID Card Required: Please have your current PC Student ID card ready to access the Basic Needs Center.
• New Pirate Pantry Registration: A new registration process is being implemented. Each student will receive 8 points when registering for the Pirate Pantry. Our team will be available during the first week to walk you through the process, which requires completing two (2) registration forms.
• Services in Progress: While the Pirate Pantry is up and running, other essential services listed on our center flyers are still being implemented. We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to get everything running smoothly and will share updates as additional resources become available.

The new Basic Needs Center in AC-105 is designed to streamline access and enhance the support we can provide to our students.

Basic Needs Center and Pirate Food Pantry Hours

Basic Needs Center Hours: The center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm, and Friday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Pirate Food Pantry Hours (Located inside the Center): The Pantry is open Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Tuesday from 12:00 pm to 6:30 pm, and Thursday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Pantry is CLOSED on Friday.

We can't wait to welcome you to the new Basic Needs Center!