Here’s a shocking statistic: three million college students need food assistance. Many are quick to make the assumption that all college students have the means necessary to afford the expenses they encounter throughout their education. In reality, many students are forced to decide between satisfying their hunger and paying for academic materials, such as textbooks.
The Problem
Throughout high school, kids are able to rely on their families and cafeteria food for meals. However, once students arrive on campus, they are in full control of their meals. Especially for students who pay for school through loans, they may not have additional funds available for groceries. For many hungry students, there are limited resources available.
The Organization
Challah for Hunger’s 91 chapters, many of which are sponsored by local Hillel chapters, unite students to bake and sell challah to raise funds for local and national non-profits. The organization began as a way for Eli Winkelman to continue tradition while at school. It has now expanded into a major platform for social justice by aiding less fortunate community members through sales.
The Project
Challah for Hunger is launching its Campus Hunger Project to determine the severity of food-insecurity across college campuses. The goal is to discover how some campuses contribute to the solution and the type of resources they provide for students, while educating students about their role in contributing to the solution.
Get Involved
Challah for Hunger is a national student organization where volunteers help bake and braid challah at weekly volunteer sessions, facilitated by a student leadership team. If you are interested in joining a local chapter, finding the closest near you here.
It is easy to get involved and you can even eat some challah along the way.
#SpoonTip: Try Spoon’s original recipe for Raspberry Nutella Mug Pie using challah.