The Fort Lewis College Grub Hub is celebrating 15 years of supporting student well-being, highlighting a program rooted in community empowerment, mutual aid, and the enduring spirit of students helping students.
Nearly 80 students, faculty, staff, community partners, donors, nonprofit organizations, and local food producers gathered to recognize the program’s impact and reflect on the future of basic needs support at FLC.
Founded in 2010 by students in the Sociology Club with support from faculty member Rebecca Clausen, Ph.D., the Grub Hub began as a small shelf of food in her office. What started as a grassroots effort to support classmates experiencing food insecurity has grown into a campus resource, and community, that reflects Fort Lewis College’s commitment to student well-being.
At Fort Lewis College, being a basic needs campus means building an ecosystem of resources, partnerships, and people dedicated to ensuring students have what they need to succeed. This includes improving access to nutritious and culturally responsive food, safe and stable housing, comprehensive health care that supports both mental and physical well-being, reliable transportation, personal hygiene resources including menstrual products, affordable childcare, and other essential supports.
Addressing basic needs is a priority in the College’s 2025–2030 strategic plan, Braided by Purpose, Rooted in Place, which calls for strengthening student-ready systems that support academic success, belonging, and well-being.
Basic Needs Coordinator Stella Zhu said the anniversary milestone reflects the strong community partnerships that sustain the Grub Hub.
“The Grub Hub is really a story about community empowerment, mutual aid, and students helping students,” Zhu said. “Community and campus supporters, nonprofit partners, local producers, donors, and students all come together around the shared belief that meeting students’ basic needs is essential to their success.”
The celebration highlighted growing philanthropic support for the college’s planned Student Well-being Hub. A $100,000 match gift from the Saul Zaentz Foundation helped inspire community giving. Launched December 2026, this gift has already exceeded the original match, with nearly $130,000 raised toward the initiative. The Michael and Elaine Moravan Foundation stepped up at the event adding an additional $10,000 matching gift, leveraging approximately $6,000 in early donations.
“This event really set the tone, but the work of supporting basic needs at Fort Lewis College is ongoing. It’s never truly finished.” said Lauren Berutich, interim vice president for Advancement. “It’s a continuous process, and we’re deeply grateful for our community’s commitment and I’m excited for what we’ll continue to build together.”
Zhu said the vision for the Student Well-being Hub reflects a shared commitment between students and the institution.
“This work is a shared responsibility,” Zhu said. “The Student Well-being Hub will help bring these resources together in one place so students can more easily access the support they need to thrive.”
Fifteen years after its founding, the Grub Hub continues to demonstrate how student-led initiatives can grow into lasting systems of care that support the success and well-being of Skyhawks. For more information or to engage, visit the GrubHub website.