College Basic Needs in Higher Education: 2025 Impact Review | Student LunchBox
- Karlen Nurijanyan
- Jan 25
- 7 min read
Student LunchBox Comprehensive Impact Report for 2025.
As we reflect on 2025, we extend our deepest gratitude to every donor, community partner, and volunteer who made this remarkable year possible. Your generosity and partnership strengthened Student LunchBox at every level, accelerated our ability to respond to student needs, and reinforced our commitment to stand firmly alongside the students who relied on us throughout the year. Because of your support, we were able to show up consistently, adapt quickly, and serve students with dignity during moments of both stability and crisis. Karlen Nurijanyan
Empowering Students & Their Families
Over the past year, Student LunchBox has witnessed firsthand how essential stability is for students striving to complete their education while navigating financial, emotional, and practical challenges that often remain unseen. Thanks to the collective commitment of our supporters, partners, and collaborators, students across participating campuses were able to access nutritious food and essential resources in ways that fit naturally into their academic lives. This shared investment helped ease daily tradeoffs between basic needs and college expenses, allowing students to remain focused, engaged, and confident in their path forward.
The year began with an unexpected test of that commitment. In January 2025, devastating fires displaced hundreds of college students and campus staff across Los Angeles, leaving many without immediate access to necessities. Within days, Student LunchBox mobilized emergency support, providing food, clothing, and hygiene kits during such an incredibly uncertain time. The response reflected the strength of our community and underscored the importance of having systems in place that allow support to reach students quickly, respectfully, and without disruption.
Throughout the year, that same foundation of reliability continued across campuses. Mobile markets brought fresh produce, pantry staples, and essential supplies directly to students, while partner pantries remained stocked and accessible week after week. At the same time, we strengthened and expanded the Closet Initiative, responding to student feedback by addressing broader needs, including toiletries, bedding, and clothing. As we listened more closely, we recognized and filled a critical gap for student parents by adding diapers, children’s clothing, school supplies, and age-appropriate essentials.
Behind every distribution was careful coordination and shared responsibility, ensuring services were delivered consistently and with dignity. Together, we helped create the stability students need to persist, progress, and continue working toward a more secure future.
Expanding Public Awareness
As our program continued to grow, we reached a defining milestone when Chrissy Teigen and her company, Cravings, invested in our mission. Their financial and in-kind support, paired with a sincere commitment to student well-being, expanded our capacity to reach more students across Los Angeles and respond to the growing demand for basic-needs support on campus. Thanks to our incredible partner, California State University, Long Beach, which hosted a one-of-a-kind event welcoming Chrissy and the Cravings team, students were able to share their experiences firsthand and engage directly in conversations about the realities they face as they pursue their education. Chrissy and her team listened to students and used their platform to elevate the often-overlooked issue of college hunger, bringing national visibility to Student LunchBox and reinforcing the essential role our programs play in advancing student success and stability in higher education.
Link to: Chrissy Teigen's PSA
Building on this momentum, Student LunchBox was also honored to be featured in The Giving List by the Montecito Journal. This publication reaches more than 30,000 influential changemakers across LA County. This recognition reflects the growing visibility of our mission. It offers an important opportunity to broaden our outreach to potential donors and partners who are learning about our work for the first time.
Results, Outcomes & Impact
In 2025, Student LunchBox recorded 153,395 students (53,671 unduplicated) across 17 campuses. We distributed 992,180 pounds of food, ultimately meeting our 2025 goal of 900,000 pounds and ensuring access to fresh produce, proteins, a variety of grocery products, and prepared meals that formed the foundation of consistent, nutritious diets. In tandem, our Closet Initiative provided over $314,974 worth of essential items, including clothing, toiletries, and hygiene products.
Beyond reach and sustainability, SLB’s impact is reflected in student experiences. Based on feedback from more than 2,500 students surveyed, participants consistently reported improved financial stability, stronger mental and physical health, and a greater ability to remain enrolled and academically focused. These results reflect the power of a community that believes in Student LunchBox’s mission and stands alongside students as they work toward a more secure future.
75.43% Experienced Significant Financial Relief
Students reported saving an estimated $400–$600 per month by accessing food and essential supplies through Student LunchBox, thereby redirecting limited financial resources toward rent, transportation, textbooks, and other education-related costs.
62.07% Reported Improved Mental Well-Being
Students shared that consistent access to food and essential resources reduced daily stress and anxiety, helping them feel more stable, supported, and better able to focus on their academic responsibilities.
63.65% Experienced Improved Physical Well-Being
Access to nutritious food, with an emphasis on fresh produce and balanced grocery items, supported healthier eating habits, more regular meals, increased energy levels, and improved students’ ability to manage the physical demands of school.
63.41% Reported Stronger Academic Focus
Students indicated that reliable access to food helped them maintain concentration, complete coursework more consistently, and stay engaged with their academic goals.
63.44% Felt More Comfortable Accessing Support
Student LunchBox’s on-campus presence reduced stigma around seeking assistance, fostering a culture of dignity, inclusion, and belonging that encouraged students to access support when needed.
But the outcomes students reported were made possible by something equally powerful: the people behind the work.
At the organizational level, 563 student volunteers contributed 5,701 hours of service, powering core logistics, warehouse operations, outreach, and mobile market distributions. This student-led workforce dramatically expanded Student LunchBox’s operational capacity while sustaining a cost-effective, peer-driven model rooted in trust, shared experience, and student leadership.
In parallel, more than 90 campus staff, student ambassadors, and volunteers provided 5,640 hours of support across partner campuses, strengthening on-site coordination and extending distribution capacity. Their consistent presence ensured that services were delivered with care and without disruption, creating dependable access to food and essential resources that students could count on throughout the year.
The Voices of Our Students
Since the program came to our campus, I've been able to get enough food to last me for the week, in which there would be times I wouldn't have enough for a week, let alone for a couple of days. There would be times I would go without eating breakfast, or go to bed without eating dinner only to ration what I had. Not having enough food is hard when I can't sleep well, concentrate in class, do homework, or have enough energy to do much. Regardless, I still push through it. So, thank you for allowing our campus to have this program.
The times I've come to school on an empty stomach because I wasn't able to make dinner, and there was food, there has been a great blessing. I've utilized the vegetables and the frozen meats to ensure that I can have dinner for the next day or even lunch, and to make sure that I have a meal that I know I can make with what's still needed. CBD College is of great help, and it's not just a blessing for me, but it's a blessing for other students that are possibly in the same boat as I am.
As a single mom and parenting student, it is DIFFICULT to sustain a living these days on my own. These people have made my life MUCH BETTER by providing me with fresh produce for my family!!
It's not an exaggeration to say that Student LunchBox saved my life. The food they provided was a lifeline for me when I needed to put money towards other priorities. Having food FOR FREE without judgment or shame from the incredible people running this service feels like a dream come true. Thank you, Student LunchBox!
Interning at Student Lunchbox has been such an impactful time in my life. I love seeing familiar faces excited to grab their fresh fruits and vegetables every week. While this is an on-campus job, I would still help out even if it were a volunteer position. Every week, one student in particular tells my co-worker and me, "Thank you for setting this up for us every week. We really appreciate it." It's comments like that and the smiling faces I see at Student LunchBox that make it even more meaningful.
Every milestone reached in 2025 reflects a shared commitment to student success that extends far beyond Student LunchBox alone. The progress outlined throughout this report was made possible by a network of campus partners, community organizations, foundations, and corporate donors who have invested in this mission year after year. Together, they have helped build the infrastructure, trust, and consistency that students rely on to access food and essential resources. This work is collective by design, and because of these partners, our impact continues to grow, our reach continues to expand, and students across our campuses know they are not navigating their college journey alone.
Today, Student LunchBox has become a trusted lifeline for tens of thousands and a model of sustainable support in higher education. None of this growth would have been possible without you. Your belief in our mission has carried us forward at every step. Thank you for standing with us, for uplifting our students, and for helping create a future where every student has the stability, dignity, and opportunity to thrive.
At your service,
Karlen Nurijanyan
Founde | CEO
