1 in 3 college students cannot afford balanced meals.

Student LunchBox, a 501(c)3 organization, combats college hunger in Los Angeles County, serving over 8,000 students monthly with food, toiletries, clothing, and other essential resources. By meeting their basic needs, we help students stay focused, stay enrolled, and thrive.

FOOD

EVENTS

DISTRIBUTION

Donate Today

CLICK HERE TO LOCATE FOOD NEARBY

1 in 3

college students don't know where their next meal will come from

Factors

Poverty

Many students come from low-income families, struggling to cover basic needs

High Cost of Living

Soaring living expenses in college towns put overwhelming pressure on student budget

Inflation

Rising prices outpace student income, leaving fewer resources to cover essentials

Low Wages

Part-time and work-study jobs often fail to provide enough to meet core living needs

Lack of Affordable Housing

High rent forces students into impossible choices between housing and other necessities

Increased Tuition

Rising tuition leaves less money for essentials, especially food and daily needs

Consequences

Academic Performance

Disrupts concentration and performance, hindering educational progress

Physical Health

Leads to fatigue, weakened immune system and diminished overall well-being

Long-Term

Consequences

Results in poor academic performance, lower grades

and decreased graduation rates

Mental Health

Increases stress and anxiety, exacerbating existing mental health issues

Financial Strain

Forces difficult choices between food, tuition,

housing and school supplies

Rare to Severe Consequences

Hardships deter students from completing their education, leading to poverty, substance abuse, and homelessness

Our Mission and Our Promise

Student LunchBox is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2020 to empower 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.

What makes Student LunchBox Unique

SLB’s mission is rooted in the belief that students should not choose between education and basic needs.

Unlike other support systems, we are a college community-led, impact-focused, and sustainability-driven organization, reaching thousands of students through strategic campus partnerships to address the pivotal challenges of financial and food insecurity.

Our comprehensive approach to basic needs support

A Proven Process

Food Sourcing

Recover food from local businesses, food banks & community organizations

Distribution Methods

Replenish partner college pantries and establish satellite pantries

Campus Partnerships

Collaborate with numerous campuses in Los Angeles County

Leadership Opportunities

Invite students to lead, build, and support campus communities

Mobile Markets

Host weekly farmer's market-style distributions on partner campuses

Student LunchBox has developed a robust and effective process to combat food insecurity on college campuses. Our program is designed to maximize impact while maintaining low operating costs.

Essential Closet

Offering clothing, toiletries, and other essential goods to students

Our Impact

Student LunchBox combats college hunger in Los Angeles County, serving over 8,000 students monthly with food, toiletries, hygiene kits, clothing, and other essential resources.

By fulfilling students' basic needs, SLB empowers students to concentrate on their education and unleash their full academic potential.

8,000+

avg. individuals served monthly

120,000+

avg. annual visits across our pantry network

Student LunchBox (SLB) has emerged as a vital lifeline for college students across Los Angeles County, serving over 4,000 (unduplicated) individuals monthly and facilitating a remarkable 120,000+ annual visits to our satellite pantries, mobile markets, and partner sites. Our expansive network spans several community colleges and universities throughout the region.

With a unique program that extends compassionate support to all learners, SLB is rapidly becoming one of LA's fastest-growing and most essential organizations, addressing the urgent demand for basic needs assistance within the academic community.

Our Impact

How to Help

Your support contributes directly to providing essential resources, including food, essential toiletries & hygiene kits, clothing, and bedding that enable students to focus on their studies without worrying about basic needs.