Saturday Food Distribution: Everything You Need to Know

Pantry Ticket

At the First UU Food Pantry, we are committed to making our weekly food distribution in Chula Vista as organized and stress-free as possible. To ensure everyone has a smooth experience, we use a text-based ticketing system for our Saturday distributions.
Below is your step-by-step guide on how to receive food this weekend.

1. How to Get a Ticket
To receive food, you must have a ticket. We do not use a physical walk-up line; instead, you secure your spot through a lottery system from the comfort of your home. Your chance of getting a ticket is GOOD, 3 out of 4 people who enter get tickets.

Text us at (619) 678-0134.

• When to Text: Every Saturday morning between 7:00 AM and 7:15 AM.
• The Deadline: The last entry is accepted at exactly 7:14:59 AM.

​​What to Text:
To make the process as fast as possible, your very first message should simply be the number of families you are picking up for: 1, 2, or 3.
Important: Please avoid sending "Hello" or "Good morning" as a text. 

• The limit is one entry per phone number.
• You will receive a confirmation message.

After You Text: 
After 7:20 AM, send another text to find out if you have been selected. Text the number of families one more time.

• If selected: You will receive your tickets directly on your phone.
• If not selected: You will be notified that you did not receive a ticket for today’s distribution.

Wait, what if I'm new? You do not need to be pre-registered to get a ticket! If it is your first time, simply text your number (1, 2, or 3) to get your spot. You will fill out a simple registration form when you arrive.

• What we ask: Basic info to help us track our community impact.
• What we DON'T ask: We never ask for ID or proof of citizenship.
• Note: Our texting system only works with US-based phone numbers.

2. What is on Your Ticket?
Your digital ticket contains two important pieces of information:

1. Your Number: This represents your specific place in line.
2. Pickup Time: This is the approximate time you should arrive at the site.

3. Pickup Details & Location

• When: Saturdays from 11:00 AM – 12:45 PM.
• Where: St. John's, 760 1st Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910.
• Parking: Space is very limited. Please do not arrive before the time listed on your ticket. This prevents traffic congestion and keeps the process smooth for all our neighbors.

4. Helpful Reminders

• What defines a "Family"? For our distribution, one "family" ticket covers approximately 4 people living in a single household. You may pick up for a maximum of 3 families (yourself plus two others).
• What to bring: If you have a personal folding cart, please bring it! If not, don't worry—we have plenty of empty boxes available for you to use.

We appreciate your cooperation in following this process. By using the ticketing system and arriving at your scheduled time, you help us serve the Chula Vista community more efficiently.

We look forward to seeing you this Saturday!

---