Aztecs Rock Hunger returns to feed the need
Associated Students’ annual campaign runs through Nov. 30, supporting basic needs resources and hunger relief efforts in San Diego.
Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»â€™s annual Aztecs Rock Hunger (ARH) campaign has returned now through Nov. 30, calling on students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to help fight food and nutrition insecurity at Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» and across San Diego.
Led by , ARH raises funds to support the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» (ECRT), and . As the cost of living continues to rise, food insecurity remains an urgent issue for Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» students and San Diego County residents. Every dollar donated to the campaign provides two meals for an individual experiencing food and nutrition insecurity.
“Aztecs Rock Hunger is a reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together,” said Eric Krog, A.S. vice president of financial affairs and chair of Aztecs Rock Hunger. “Every donation and act of support, whether by spreading the word, volunteering your time or attending an event, helps provide meaningful resources to people facing food insecurity.”
A portion of ARH donations go directly to ECRT, which supports students experiencing immediate food, housing or unforeseen financial crises. In addition, the proceeds raised help fund the A.S. Food Pantry to purchase food, including fresh produce, for Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» students throughout the year. Additional funds support The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, which serves an average of 400,000 people each month and distributed over 50 million pounds of food last year.
During the 2025-26 academic year, ECRT served approximately 2,000 students. The program also matched nearly $49,000 in emergency CalFresh support during the November 2025 government shutdown and provided more than $41,000 in emergency food support to Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» students.
The A.S. Food Pantry distributes an average of more than 150,000 pounds of food each year, including eggs, milk and fresh produce. In its 11 years of operation, the pantry has served tens of thousands of Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» students.
“The A.S. Food Pantry is a reliable, friendly-staffed and non-judgemental space where students can easily access quality staple pantry items and fresh produce,” said Elsie, a food and nutrition student. “This on-campus resource allows me to put less stress on my weekly grocery budget and focus more on school.”
This year, ARH is expanding opportunities for campus participation. Campaign leaders aim to increase overall participation with volunteers and participation in competitions across 10 campus divisions, including fraternities and sororities, college councils and student organizations.
“Aztecs Rock Hunger is about more than raising money; it’s about showing our community that we care,” Krog said. “Seeing students come together to support their fellow students and our San Diego community is what makes this campaign so meaningful, and I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together this year.”
The campaign follows a record-setting year in 2025, when ARH raised $114,567. Since launching in 2010, ARH has raised over $1 million.
“Aztecs Rock Hunger is a powerful example of what can happen when a university and its community come together to address food insecurity,” said Casey Castillo, CEO of The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “The continued support from Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» students, faculty, staff and community members makes a meaningful difference for individuals and families throughout San Diego, and we are grateful to have Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» as a longstanding partner in this work.”
Students, faculty, staff and alumni can volunteer, donate, view events and learn more at the or by following @aztecsrockhunger on Instagram.
