Food Aid Programs
Since 1996, we've made it our mission to combat hunger. We invest more than $2 million annually in food aid programs like summer feeding initiatives, K12 backpack programs and campus food pantries.Food Is At The Heart Of It
More than 38 million Americans – including 13 million children – suffer from food insecurity. What began as a local initiative has transformed into a global mission, with Sodexo employees worldwide serving as changemakers. The Stop Hunger Foundation operates on a dual approach: providing immediate food aid while simultaneously investing in sustainable solutions that empower communities to rise above hunger permanently. Because no one, especially a child, should ever be hungry.
Bridging the Hunger Gap
Stop Hunger's grant initiatives create food access opportunities for our communities’ most vulnerable. Our strategic funding sustains campus food pantries and backpacks, provides summer meals for students and delivers emergency relief when disaster strikes. Through innovative partnerships and direct funding to grassroots programs, we've cast a wide net to create a network of hunger-fighting partners. With the help of our volunteers, donors, and nonprofit grantees, we're working to transform communities and build resilience where it's needed most.
Helping Those Who Need It Most
The Backpack Program
Nutritional support when kids need it most
Our Backpack Program provides nutritious, non-perishable food to students at risk of hunger when school meals aren't available. Each backpack is discreetly distributed before weekends, holidays or extended school closures. Traditionally implemented in K-12 schools, the program has expanded to include alternative approaches, and recipients have included food pantries and food banks. The program offers $1,000 grants to qualifying organizations, with 58 grants awarded in FY24. While nominations typically come from Sodexo employees, any non-profit organization can apply.
Rapid Response, Lasting Impact
When disaster strikes, Stop Hunger works to mobilize the entire Sodexo ecosystem to identify opportunities to support communities in need. This commitment provides not just financial resources but also volunteer support, creating a recovery framework that addresses both immediate hunger and long-term food security challenges.
Our Neighbors Need Our Help More Than Ever
In the United States, 1 in 4 children live with the daily threat of food insecurity. Your generosity has never been more crucial to help our most vulnerable communities. Join us in the fight, because no child should be hungry today or risk being hungry tomorrow.