Volunteers Receive Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grant to Fight Childhood Hunger on Global Youth Service Day 2026
c/o Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
Service Learning Fellows Erika Chiu and Sowmiya Deventhira-Raja have each been awarded a Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grant through Youth Service America (YSA). The grant will support them as they lead a community service project that addresses the issue of childhood hunger in their respective communities of San Francisco, California and Erie, Pennsylvania.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, it was estimated that 35 million people across the United States, including 10 million children, suffered from food insecurity. That number is expected to increase to as many as 50 million people. Founded in 1999, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation works with and through partners to help end childhood hunger in the United States. Sodexo, Inc., which funds all administrative costs, mobilizes experts, innovators, volunteers and donors to feed children; to advocate for policies to end childhood hunger; and to implement innovative potential solutions, particularly those designed by youth. They believe no child should be hungry today or risk being hungry again tomorrow.
Childhood hunger is a problem that can be solved, and young people are a part of the solution. Erika and Sowmiya are one of 45 young leaders across the country awarded grants. Grantees will educate and mobilize their peers around the issue to help end childhood hunger through awareness, service, advocacy, and philanthropic activities. They join young leaders and volunteers around the world as part of Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) from April 24, 2026 through April 26, 2026. Celebrating 38 years of youth changing the world, GYSD is the longest-running annual youth participation event in the world and the only one that asks all youth ages 5-25 to work together for the common good while recognizing the impact youth make on their communities every day.
“The Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation is committed to identifying, investing in and scaling innovative, youth-designed and youth-led solutions to childhood hunger,” explained Joan Rector McGlockton, Chairperson, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation and Associate General Counsel, Corporate Affairs & Litigation. “I am humbled by the quality and volume of applications we receive each year,” said Roxanne Moore, Executive Director, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation. “Helping and supporting these youth grantees—ordinary people that make themselves extraordinary—brings the Stop Hunger Foundation closer to its objective of working toward zero hunger. By investing in their efforts on GYSD, we hope to ignite the passion in other young people to join the fight.”
For updates on the event schedule and opportunities to participate, please follow Eloquence Academy on social media (@eloquenceacademy).
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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,700+ students across 39 states and 19 countries. Ultimately, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow EA on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
