Opportunities to Engage K-12 Students in Service-Learning Projects to Help Stop Hunger
Michael Minks
With food insecurity rising, food banks struggling to meet the high demand, and safety nets like SNAP threatened, 1 in 5 children - more than 13 million young people - in the US are living at risk of hunger, so we need creative youth-led solutions more than ever.
Youth Service America’s partnership with the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation continues for another year, with two programs for 2026:
· The 16th Annual Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grants - $1,000 grants for youth-led projects that engage at least 100 youth volunteers around Global Youth Service Day (April 24-26). - Apply by January 25
· The NEW Stop Hunger Classroom Challenge - A competition inviting K–12 classrooms to make their hunger projects smarter, deeper, and more student-led. 29 classrooms will be recognized with awards of $250 - $2,500. - Sign up by February 6.
Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grants - Deadline: January 25
YSA is looking for the best ideas from young people about how they can provide immediate food aid to help end hunger today while also going beyond food aid to help ensure people are not hungry tomorrow. 25 grants of $1,000 will support youth leaders, ages 5-25,
and their peers across the U.S. to turn their ideas into action and make an impact on the issue of childhood hunger during Global Youth Service Day (April 24-26, 2026). Learn more & apply by January 25 at
YSA.org/Sodexo#Grants.
Stop Hunger Classroom Challenge - Registration Deadline: February 6
Join classrooms across the country improving familiar efforts like food drives and backpack programs. Students lead, teachers guide, and YSA provides simple tools to help you get started. 29 classes will receive awards to continue or expand their project. 24 Semi-Finalists will receive $250 or $500, and 5 Finalists will receive $750, $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, or $2,500. Sign up your classroom by February 6 at YSA.org/Sodexo.
We look forward to seeing applications / submissions from the service-learning community.
If these aren’t the right opportunities for you, but you know others who might be interested, please forward this message or share using this promotional content.
Mike
Michael Minks
Vice President of Operations
YSA (Youth Service America)
1050 Connecticut Ave NW #65525
Washington, DC 20035-5525