Best Zero Hunger Organizations to Support for Hunger Action Month 2026
World hunger remains a pressing issue affecting millions of people with approximately 811 million individuals suffering from chronic undernourishment (Source: FAO). As we recognize Hunger Action Month in 2023, it's essential to address this crisis and take collective action toward a hunger-free world. Hunger and food security organizations working tirelessly to combat hunger play a pivotal role in this endeavor.
Why partnering with nonprofits can help achieve Zero Hunger
Partnering with hunger nonprofits and food security NGOs provides a dynamic approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges of world hunger. These organizations have extensive experience, networks, and expertise in providing food assistance, advocacy, and sustainable solutions. Through collaborative efforts, we can pool resources, raise awareness, and drive meaningful change in the fight against hunger. Together, we can ensure that no one goes to bed hungry and make significant strides toward creating a world where nutritious meals are accessible to all.
By collaborating with these nonprofits, we can amplify efforts to provide nutritious meals, tackle food insecurity, and empower communities in need. Let's explore some remarkable Zero Hunger organizations dedicated to fighting hunger.
10 Zero Hunger Organizations
1. Second Servings
Second Servings is an extraordinary organization that addresses two pressing issues simultaneously - hunger and food waste. Recognizing the vast amount of surplus food that goes to waste in businesses and events, Second Servings has developed an innovative approach to rescue this excess and redistribute it to local charities. Their dedicated team of volunteers collects perfectly good, unserved food that would otherwise end up in landfills and transports it to shelters, soup kitchens, and other organizations serving those in need. By providing these nutritious meals to vulnerable populations, Second Servings not only fights hunger but also contributes to environmental sustainability. Through their concerted efforts, they have successfully diverted millions of pounds of food from landfills, making a positive impact on both the community and the planet.
2. Sojourner House
Sojourner House is more than just a shelter for homeless families; it is a beacon of hope and a transformative force in the lives of those they serve. Their comprehensive approach to combating hunger and poverty goes beyond simply providing meals. Sojourner House offers a wide range of supportive services, including housing, education, and workforce development programs. Their food assistance initiatives ensure that families have access to nutritious meals while they work towards achieving stability and self-sufficiency. By addressing the root causes of homelessness and hunger, Sojourner House empowers families to break free from the cycle of poverty and achieve lasting success. Through their tireless dedication and compassionate care, they create a nurturing environment where individuals can thrive and rebuild their lives.
3. Open Hand San Francisco
Open Hand is a shining example of a nonprofit organization that nourishes both the body and the spirit of the community. Open Hand's mission is to provide nutritious meals to seniors and individuals with serious illnesses, promoting health and well-being among the most vulnerable populations. They understand the critical role that proper nutrition plays in managing health conditions and improving overall quality of life. Through their thoughtfully prepared meals, tailored to meet individual dietary needs, Open Hand ensures that those facing health challenges have access to the sustenance they require to thrive. Moreover, their holistic approach extends beyond just meals, as they also offer nutritional education and counseling, fostering a deeper understanding of the vital link between food and wellness. With a network of dedicated volunteers and supporters, Open Hand San Francisco embodies the spirit of compassion and community, transforming lives one meal at a time.
4. Openhand Atlanta
Openhand Atlanta is a food security NGO dedicated to eradicating hunger and food insecurity. With a steadfast commitment to serving those in need, this nonprofit organization operates various food distribution programs that reach thousands of individuals and families facing challenging circumstances. Openhand Atlanta partners with local food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters to ensure that nutritious meals are accessible to everyone in the community. By collaborating with other organizations and community members, they create a united front against hunger, fostering a supportive network that uplifts the most vulnerable. Beyond just providing meals, Openhand Atlanta empowers individuals to regain control of their lives and break free from the clutches of hunger. With a strong sense of purpose and a passion for social impact, Openhand Atlanta brings hope and sustenance to those who need it most, making a lasting difference in the lives of the community they serve.
5. 500 Projects of Love
500 Projects of Love is a beacon of love and support for underprivileged families and communities. With a heartwarming dedication to making a difference, this compassionate nonprofit organization extends a helping hand through a variety of initiatives. One of their primary focuses is to provide food assistance to those facing hunger and insecurity. With an extensive network of volunteers, they organize food drives and distribution events, ensuring that nutritious meals reach those who need them the most. But their efforts don't stop there. 500 Projects of Love also embraces education and empowerment, offering resources and programs that enable individuals to access educational opportunities and vocational training. Through these initiatives, they pave the way for a brighter future, empowering individuals to rise above their circumstances and flourish. With love as their guiding principle, 500 Projects of Love spreads warmth and compassion throughout their community, touching hearts and changing lives with every project they undertake.
6. Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children is a Zero Hunger organization with a global reach and a singular mission - to end childhood hunger. With a deep sense of urgency and compassion, Feed My Starving Children operates meal-packing events that engage volunteers in a tangible way to make a difference. Volunteers come together to pack nutritious meals that are specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of malnourished children around the world. These life-saving meals are then distributed to countries facing food crises, helping children not only survive but also thrive. The organization's impact goes beyond just providing meals; it also fosters a sense of community and camaraderie among volunteers who share the common goal of making the world a better place. By engaging individuals of all ages and backgrounds, Feed My Starving Children instills a sense of purpose and social responsibility, igniting a passion for change and inspiring a movement of kindness and compassion that knows no borders.
7. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida stands as a beacon of hope in the fight against hunger. Their unwavering commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region is manifested through strategic partnerships with local food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. By collaborating with these community organizations, Second Harvest ensures that nutritious food reaches those who need it most. The food bank operates as a crucial link between surplus food sources, such as grocery stores and restaurants, and those facing hunger. They rescue and distribute millions of pounds of food annually, ensuring that no wholesome meal goes to waste. Through its food distribution programs, Second Harvest not only addresses immediate hunger needs but also works towards building food security and fostering self-sufficiency within the community. Their dedication to providing sustenance to those in need nourishes both the body and the spirit, creating a pathway toward a hunger-free Central Florida.
8. Society of St. Andrew
With a commitment to tackling food waste and fighting hunger simultaneously, the food security NGO Society of St. Andrew operates gleaning programs across the United States. The essence of their mission lies in salvaging fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing these rescued crops to agencies serving those experiencing hunger. By working closely with farmers and volunteers, they engage in the age-old practice of gleaning, and harvesting surplus crops from fields after the primary harvest. These nutritious and wholesome fruits and vegetables become a lifeline for individuals and families facing food insecurity. The Society of St. Andrew's efforts not only ensure that fresh produce reaches those who need it most, but they also contribute to reducing food waste and its impact on the environment. Through its gleaning programs, this nonprofit organization embraces the spirit of community collaboration and sustainability, turning surplus into sustenance and providing hope and nourishment to those who need it the most.
9. YMCA International Services
YMCA International Services stands as a pillar of support for refugees and immigrants, offering comprehensive assistance that goes beyond just providing food support. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by newcomers, the organization embraces a holistic approach to empower and uplift individuals and families on their journey to self-sufficiency. By providing education, job training, and language support, YMCA International Services fosters empowerment and integration within the community. Their commitment to food support goes hand-in-hand with their mission to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for all. Through their culturally sensitive and diverse food assistance programs, they ensure that refugees and immigrants have access to nutritious meals that cater to their unique dietary needs. By fostering a sense of belonging and support, YMCA International Services enables newcomers to thrive, contributing to the rich tapestry of Houston's cultural diversity.
10. Care and Share
With a mission to end hunger in the state of Colorado, the Zero Hunger organization Care and Share plays a pivotal role in nourishing communities and individuals facing food insecurity. Their innovative food distribution models serve as a lifeline for thousands of Coloradans, ensuring that nutritious meals reach the tables of those who need them most. Care and Share's impact extends far beyond just providing food; they strive to create sustainable and equitable solutions that address the root causes of hunger. Through their network of partner agencies, they engage in strategic collaborations to reach underserved and vulnerable populations. By empowering community members through education and resources, Care and Share fosters a sense of agency and self-sufficiency. Their dedication to community engagement and responsiveness ensures that their efforts align with the ever-evolving needs of the region. As they work towards a hunger-free Colorado, Care, and Share epitomizes the power of compassion, collaboration, and innovation in driving impactful change.
Wrapping it up
This Hunger Action Month, join hands with these incredible Zero Hunger organizations to make a lasting impact on the lives of those affected. Remember, your partnership and support can make a difference that reverberates far beyond Hunger Action Month.
Looking to volunteer with your team for any of the above organizations for Hunger Action Month 2023? Explore our Hunger Action Month campaign here.
This list is not exhaustive, and we'd love to amplify nonprofit voices and connect them to corporate volunteers who want to create meaningful impact. Are you a nonprofit? Partner with Goodera.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are Zero Hunger organizations?
Zero Hunger organizations are nonprofits and multilateral agencies working to end food insecurity, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 2. They combine emergency food aid, food rescue, community development, and policy advocacy to reach the estimated 811 million people facing chronic undernourishment worldwide, according to the FAO. Examples include Feeding America, the World Food Programme, and Action Against Hunger.
2. What are the top Zero Hunger organizations to support?
Leading Zero Hunger organizations include Feeding America, the largest US hunger-relief network with 200+ food banks and 60,000+ pantries, and the World Food Programme, the largest global humanitarian food-aid agency. Others worth supporting are FoodCorps, Meals on Wheels America, City Harvest, The Hunger Project, Action Against Hunger, OzHarvest, FareShare, and Second Servings in Houston.
3. How does Feeding America address food insecurity?
Feeding America operates a nationwide network of over 200 member food banks that supply more than 60,000 pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. The organization sources donations from farms, manufacturers, retailers, and government programs, then routes food to communities based on local need. Corporate partners contribute product donations, cash grants, logistics expertise, and employee volunteer hours across warehouses.
4. Why is Hunger Action Month important for companies?
Hunger Action Month takes place every September in the United States and gives companies a concentrated moment to mobilize employees, customers, and matched giving around food insecurity. It sharpens internal storytelling, drives measurable donations to food banks, and creates a natural anchor for year-round programming. Sustained partnerships beyond the September burst deliver deeper community outcomes.
5. How can companies engage employees in corporate meal-packing events?
Corporate meal-packing events bring teams together to assemble shelf-stable meals for local food banks, schools, or disaster relief. Sessions typically run 60 to 120 minutes, package 10,000 to 50,000 meals, and pair well with a speaker from the receiving nonprofit to add context. Hybrid formats let remote colleagues sponsor meals virtually while onsite employees pack in person.
6. What is the difference between food rescue and traditional food banking?
Food rescue organizations like Second Servings, City Harvest, and Food Rescue US collect surplus prepared food from restaurants, caterers, and events and redistribute it the same day to shelters and pantries. Traditional food banks warehouse shelf-stable donations, government commodities, and bulk produce for distribution across weeks. Both models reduce waste, but rescue prioritizes freshness while banking prioritizes scale.
7. How can employees do skills-based volunteering for Zero Hunger organizations?
Skills-based volunteering pairs professional expertise with nonprofit needs. Common projects include optimizing warehouse operations, mapping delivery routes, upgrading pantry inventory systems, building donor CRMs, running cybersecurity audits, and creating fundraising collateral. These engagements typically stretch over four to twelve weeks and deliver more lasting value than a single meal-packing shift, especially for smaller food-rescue nonprofits.
8. What are effective alternatives to canned food drives?
Food banks increasingly prefer cash and grocery gift-card campaigns over canned food drives because purchasing power stretches further and preserves dignity and choice for recipients. Fresh produce drives, matched giving campaigns, meal-packing events, and skills-based volunteering also outperform traditional canned drives. Advocacy for federal nutrition programs such as SNAP and school meals amplifies impact well beyond any single donation.
9. How do companies measure the impact of hunger-relief partnerships?
Common metrics include meals provided, pounds of food rescued, dollars donated and matched, volunteer hours contributed, and pantries or schools reached. Deeper measurement tracks household food-security scores, produce access, and repeat visits over time. Best-in-class programs combine output metrics with community-defined outcomes and pair quantitative dashboards with partner stories from frontline food-bank staff.
10. How can Goodera help companies partner with Zero Hunger organizations?
Goodera curates vetted partnerships with hunger-focused nonprofits and runs volunteering activations at scale, including onsite meal-packing, virtual food-bank support, skills-based projects, and Hunger Action Month campaigns. Programs are delivered across 100+ countries with impact measurement built in, letting companies move from one-off drives to sustained, outcome-linked engagement with organizations such as Feeding America and OzHarvest.
