NEW ORLEANS, La. - Sodexo’s award-winning Cooking for a Cause returned for its second year with campuses across Louisiana and Mississippi rallying together to fight food insecurity. What began as a chef-driven competition for Hunger Action Month has evolved into a collaborative, student-led effort that’s now feeding thousands.
For every dollar donated, a meal was provided to support programs such as Swipe Out Hunger and on-campus food pantries. This year, $4,391 was raised, and with Sodexo and SodexoMagic matching donations to help increase the overall impact of the program and support students in need, that total increased to 8,365 meals.
Participating campuses included Mississippi University for Women, Jones College, Grambling State University, Nicholls State University, East Mississippi Community College (Scooba, Lion Hills, and Golden Triangle), University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Centenary College of Louisiana, Dillard University, Jackson State University, Northwestern State University, and Loyola University New Orleans.
This year, Sodexo chefs across campuses collaborated instead of competing, each creating dishes inspired by pantry staples and food scraps to showcase creativity and sustainability.
Each campus added its own unique touch. Sodexo offered branded Cooking for a Cause T-shirts for $20 donations at Jones College, EMCC, and Mississippi University for Women.
At Nicholls State University, the Colonel Closet hosted a table with resources for students in need, while Dining interns dressed as superheroes cheered on donations. Xavier University of Louisiana’s Dining Services hosted a resource fair featuring several campus organizations, and the event also included cheerleaders who helped energize the crowd and encourage donations. Northwestern State University featured a campus food pantry table and also connected students to job opportunities through the Career Center.
Grambling State University added a meaningful extension to the effort this year by participating in a campuswide food drive and donating to the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home. Students also lined up to swipe for “I DONATED” stickers, and the team built on the program’s mission by preparing meals for Tigers on campus. Their contributions reinforced the spirit of service driving this year’s event and showed how each campus found its own way to strengthen the collective impact.
Centenary College of Louisiana brought in school pride by inviting cheerleaders to encourage donations, and the team elevated the experience further by theming their event around their featured dish with festive Italian decor.
Across campuses, menu flyers also showcased which food pantry items and food scraps were used in each dish, helping reinforce the program’s commitment to creativity and sustainability. Other campuses featured recognition displays, stickers, and fun themes, making the event a true celebration of giving and student support across the region.
Signage highlighted the program’s national recognition, reminding participants that every dollar and every meal counts.
From students and chefs to guests and community partners, Cooking for a Cause continues to grow as a movement built on creativity, collaboration, and compassion. Together, they turned simple ingredients and shared effort into 8,365 meals and a powerful statement about what happens when campuses unite for good.
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