Dollar Lunch Club @ UCSD

What's our deal?

Dollar Lunch Club is a community at UCSD that cooks and eats together in pursuit of food justice through mutual aid and sustainable practices. We are inspired, in part, by Food Not Bombs and the Black Panther Party's People's Free Food Program.
We are composed of graduate and undergraduate students from many departments and backgrounds. We invite faculty, staff, and any other members of the San Diego community who'd like to join us.

Can I come to Dollar Lunch?

Yes you can! We'd love to have you. Whether you're an undergrad, a janitor, a teaching assistant, a grad student, a construction worker, or just passing through, you're welcome to join us.

How do I hear about Dollar Lunches that are happening soon?

The most consistent way to hear about our lunches is through our Instagram, which you can find at @dollar_lunch_club . You can check the Google Calendar embedded below, or request to join our mailing list. We also try to email department mailing lists, ping Slacks, and tell our friends. If all else fails, try emailing dollar dot lunch dot club dot ucsd @ gmail dot com

How much do I have to pay?

There's no "have to" here - mutual aid is about giving what you can, and taking what you need, while forming strong community bonds. No matter your circumstances: if you're hungry, or you want to make new friends, we invite you to join us.
To share the work and costs associated with Dollar Lunch, you could:

help wash dishes
give produce, dry goods, or cooking implements you don't need
give $1 to $5
volunteer to plan or prep for the next meal

How do I get involved with Dollar Lunch Club?

Step 1: Show up to lunches
Step 2: Ask to help with cleanup
Step 3: Repeat!
Once we get to know you, we can talk about different ways you could contribute!

We respectfully acknowledge the Kumeyaay people, whose violently stolen land we live, work, cook, and learn on. We hope to work towards a future in which we collaborate with the Kumeyaay on stewardship and love of this land; and a future in which the violence of the United States-Mexico border does not divide us from our neighbors.

If you are able, please consider getting involved with mutual aid efforts for folks struggling with that border violence; such as with the great groups linked below.

Borderlands Relief Collective

Al Otro Lado

Border Angels • Ángeles de la Frontera

No More Deaths • No Más Muertes

Our community is fiercely antiracist and pro-LGBT rights.

an intersectional LGBT pride flag, featuring the 6-color rainbow LGBT pride flag. the colors of the transgender pride flag, a brown stripe and a black stripe for antiracism are overlaid as a chevron. within the chevron is a purple curcle on a yellow field, representing intersex pride.

graphic of a raised black fist, beside the phrase 'Black Lives Matter'

To learn more about where DLC came from, how we organize, and our community goals, check out our interview by our friend James on the It Could Happen Here podcast, embedded below!
A black line sketch of a bearded dragon emerging from a bowl of beans. The lizard is wearing a cowboy hat emblazoned with a 5-pointed star. Under the bowl are the words 'Dollar Lunch Club'