Award-Winning ‘Cooking for a Cause’ Returns with Expanded Campus Lineup

“Cooking for a Cause,” an initiative designed to raise awareness about food insecurity on college campuses, will return this September for Hunger Action Month 2025 with an expanded reach and new participating schools, including Grambling State University, McNeese State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Jackson State University.

The program, created by Sodexo and launched at Jones County Junior College in Mississippi, was recently recognized by the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) with a Loyal E. Horton Dining Silver Award in the Innovative Dining Program category. The Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards are considered the ultimate professional tribute in college and university culinary arts. The recognition highlights the program’s creative approach to addressing student hunger while engaging the campus community through culinary education and collaboration.

Originally introduced in September 2024, the initiative featured Sodexo and SodexoMagic chefs from ten campuses across Louisiana and Mississippi. Participating schools included Nicholls State University, Jones College, East Mississippi Community College (Scooba), East Mississippi Community College (Golden Triangle), Mississippi University for Women, Centenary College of Louisiana, Northwestern State University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Dillard University, and Loyola University New Orleans.

Chefs at each campus created original recipes using at least three pantry staples—ingredients commonly available through campus food pantries. The events encouraged student engagement and demonstrated practical, budget-friendly cooking solutions using shelf-stable items.

The 2024 series resulted in nearly 3,000 meals donated to Swipe Out Hunger and local or campus food pantries, along with $2,586 in in-kind contributions and more than 600 non-perishable food items.

“The strength of Cooking for a Cause lies in its ability to bring people together—chefs, students, and campus partners—to address food insecurity with both creativity and care,” said Phoebe Cook, Sodexo District Manager. “This program creates real change, and the NACUFS award confirms the importance of continuing and growing this effort.”

For Hunger Action Month 2025, the program will return with refreshed elements that maintain its original mission while evolving its approach. This year’s series will continue to feature guest chefs, creative recipes built around pantry staples, and contributions to campus food pantries and Swipe Out Hunger programs. While the competitive and voting components will not return, the program will introduce new features focused on education, visibility, and community collaboration.

A printed cookbook was produced following the 2024 series, highlighting featured recipes and participating chefs. District Dietitian Abbey LeBoeuf, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC, who helped guide the culinary efforts in 2024, will return to support the upcoming program and share updates through her Instagram account, @onebite_nutrition.

With the addition of Grambling State University, McNeese State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Jackson State University—Cooking for a Cause is positioned to make an even greater impact this fall, reinforcing support for students and strengthening campus communities across the region.