Composting is simple: it is the process of breaking down organic materials, such as food scraps, into nutrient-rich soil. Composting is important because it helps reduce waste in landfills, improves soil health, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The deposition of organic material in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming. Shockingly, according to CalRecycle , a staggering 18% of the waste in California's landfi

Cal Fresh For College Students The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income individuals and families in the United States. For college students in California who are struggling to afford necessities such as food, SNAP benefits can be a vital lifeline. SNAP is a federally funded program, and California has its own program similar to SNAP: CalFresh. Both programs are relatively similar, with the difference being in eligibility requir

A study conducted in the fall of 2019 found that 39% of college students experienced food insecurity in the past 30 days. According to Feeding America , there is a difference between "hunger" and "food insecurity. " Hunger is the feeling of not eating, whereas food insecurity is the inability to access enough resources to find food. Some college students may have the resources for one meal but lack the resources for the next, resulting in an inconsistent diet. Eating consis

Without donations, many nonprofit groups would not be able to achieve their goals. Charitable organizations like Student LunchBox depend on donations and partnerships with local businesses to provide food to college students. In the United States, approximately 131 billion pounds of food are thrown away each year. This has widespread negative impacts on society. Food waste prevents hungry people from getting the food they need and makes the labor involved in food production

The purpose of nonprofits is to help the public. A need is identified, and good people work to fulfill that need. The main challenges many charities face are workload, funding, and demand . Many people may not realize how much work goes into a nonprofit to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. There are different laws and regulations surrounding nonprofits. However, a nonprofit is a business . They require money to stay afloat through donations or government assistance.

Isn't this a rather unsurprising data point? I mean, sure, when you're hungry, you don't focus as well as when your stomach isn't growling. It's harder to concentrate on your homework, lessons, and studying. Healthy brains make better gains and all that. Any third grader can confidently make this assertion. So, when does an obvious, albeit unfortunate, observation become a problem we can no longer ignore? When 20-50% of US college students experience food insecurity. When stu

The inflation of gas prices has been a hard hit on Americans who rely on vehicles for work, taking their children to school, or going to medical appointments. Not only do high gas prices affect individuals, but it affects businesses and nonprofits alike as well. Increasing Gas Prices According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration , in January of 2020 (right before lockdown for Covid-19), the average gas price in California was $3.48 per gallon. Prices dipped to $2.77

Picture Nicole, a young, aspiring engineering student who saved up all her money and took on multiple jobs to pay for her first year at community college. Her tuition is paid for, but the housing problem remains. She has a car that a friend’s parent has let her borrow, which has become her home, where she sleeps at night, showering and brushing her teeth at various places around campus. The stress of deciding where to park her car at night, where to shower, and where to get f

In the United States, approximately 108 billion pounds of food is wasted annually—one-third of the global food waste. This food waste—enough to ensure no one goes hungry—is a major source of methane, a greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. What is Food Waste? When you think of food waste, what do you picture? Did you have the waiter remove uneaten scraps from the dinner table? Moldy leftovers in the fridge that had to be thrown out (because you swore they were on the

Data collected from the last Hope survey conducted before COVID-19 hit the US indicated that 30 percent of college students experienced food insecurity at some point. In the 2020 Hope survey, 38 percent of two-year and 29 percent of four-year college students experienced food insecurity within the last 30 days. That’s a staggering number. Colleges and universities have come up with some unique ways to help combat this growing epidemic. A university gardening program is one o

You’re at the grocery store, strolling along the aisles in search of your weekly items. Your body goes through the usual motions of plucking them from the shelves and tossing them into your cart. So entrenched is this routine that it feels like you’re on autopilot. You could probably do it in your sleep. You check out, transport your goodies home to the family ... and end up wasting more than you anticipated. You’ve been here before. Something doesn’t taste the way you imagin

Food Insecurity among college students is a growing problem on many campuses in the US. About 40% of college kids don’t have consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle, and many don't know where they’ll get their next meal. When times are especially tight, they’re forced to face a harsh choice: tuition, or food? Downstream problems created by food insecurity range from the obvious, such as hunger and malnutrition, to the less evident, like poor academi

LOS ANGELES, CA November 1, 2021: — Student LunchBox is excited about its recent partnerships in Los Angeles County to rescue and distribute food to college students facing food insecurities. SLB’s new partnerships are equally inspiring as they are unique. Earlier this summer, SLB partnered with a local business owner to solicit donations by placing a drop-off donation bin at the front entrance of his neighborhood grocery store. Store patrons donate canned foods, lightly use

Student Lunchbox Seeks to Facilitate Uninterrupted Academic Achievement and Increase College Graduation Rates. LOS ANGELES—Feb. 20, 2021— With estimates that nearly half of students attending colleges and universities do not have the financial means to afford balanced meals. A new organization, Student Lunchbox (SLB), has formed to deliver meals and boarding essentials to low-income college students to reduce the hardships of hunger. The startup Los Angeles-based Student Lunc

Across California’s colleges and universities, a quiet struggle with hunger continues. Thousands of students at community colleges and four-year institutions face food insecurity while trying to stay enrolled and succeed academically. This crisis reaches far beyond missed meals. It affects concentration, class attendance, and the ability to persist toward a degree. As the cost of living rises and financial aid fails to keep pace, many students are left with impossible choices