St. Francis Center Food Recovery
Since 2015, USC Hospitality has partnered with the St. Francis Center, a local organization providing hunger relief to unhoused and low-income individuals. Prepared food that would otherwise be discarded is picked up daily and repurposed into meals, serving those in need while reducing food waste just a mile from campus.
Supporting Students with Trojan Food Pantry
USC Hospitality played a foundational role in launching the Trojan Food Pantry in 2016, securing space, equipment, and food partners to address student food insecurity. After the pandemic, the pantry was upgraded to a new location and now operates independently under Student Basic Needs. Today, USC Hospitality continues to support the program through ongoing initiatives like Dining Dollar Donations and emergency meal swipes.
Dining Dollar Donation Drive
At the end of each semester, students with meal plans are encouraged to donate unused Dining Dollars. These are converted into meal swipes and distributed to food-insecure students by Student Basic Needs. This initiative promotes dignity and inclusion by allowing students to access meals in USC dining halls.
Extra Food Project
Launching Fall 2025, this initiative repurposes extra food from private events for students facing food insecurity. Students enrolled in the program will receive alerts to pick up available food. This effort addresses food insecurity while diverting waste from landfills.
Taste of LA Pop-Ups
In partnership with Trojans Shop Local, USC Hospitality introduced ‘Taste of LA’ pop-ups in 2025. These events feature authentic cuisine from local small businesses around cultural celebrations like Black History Month and AAPI Month, bringing visibility to these vendors and cultural enrichment to the campus community.
Heritage Scholarship Fund Participation
USC Hospitality supports the Heritage Scholarship Fund through everyday purchases. Proceeds from featured items at USC Hotel, Seeds Marketplace, and the University Club help provide scholarships to students in need. Every stay, snack, or meal can make a difference.