Student LunchBox, Inc

Student LunchBox is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2020 to promote college excellence through comprehensive basic needs support. Using innovative resource recovery initiatives, SLB addresses food insecurity and hunger by providing nutritious meals and essential supplies to economically disadvantaged college students across Los Angeles County, enabling them to focus on their education and reach their full academic potential.

College hunger has become a rapidly escalating crisis, affecting 70% of community college students, 50% of California State University students, and 42% of University of California students. These conditions undermine academic performance, persistence, and student well-being, preventing thousands from reaching their potential, increasing the risk of dropping out of school, and perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

Student LunchBox emerged in 2020 as a transformative response to the intensifying crisis of campus hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time marked by widespread campus closures, job losses, and financial hardship that left thousands of college students without reliable access to food. What began as a grassroots initiative has quickly grown into a lifeline for thousands across Los Angeles County. In under four years, through swift action and strategic vision, SLB has united a powerful coalition of colleges and universities, donors, and community partners to tackle college hunger with an innovative model that delivers immediate relief while building a lasting foundation for academic success.

This crisis is visible every day in our work. In 2025 alone, Student LunchBox recorded 153,395 student visits, reflecting the scale and urgency of need on college campuses throughout Los Angeles County. For many students, access to our services is not supplemental but essential to continuing their education.

As campus resources remain limited and food waste persists, the organization bridges this gap through a coordinated, campus-integrated model that recovers and delivers nutritious food and essential resources directly to students. Our program operates across 17 partner campuses, delivering stigma-free support that strengthens students’ financial stability, mental and physical health, and ability to remain engaged in college.