Lions and Leos serve to improve the lives of people everywhere, and we see how the global hunger and nutrition crisis is impacting our local communities. Here are some hunger service project ideas* to help your community members have access to nutritious foods.
Beginner Hunger Project Ideas
- Support your local food bank by donating time, equipment or food. Video: Lions Food Banks Around the World
- Create a resource list of hunger-related volunteer opportunities in your region to share with other clubs in your district.
- Use social media to raise awareness about childhood hunger in your community and inspire others to become involved. Social Media Resources
- Host a healthy eating event. Invite a nutritionist as a keynote speaker.*
- Donate to organizations that provide micro-nutrient powders to malnourished children.
Intermediate Hunger Project Ideas
- Volunteer with a "gleaning group" to harvest unpicked fruits and vegetables at farms and orchards.*
- Collaborate with a food bank to organize a community food drive, focusing on collecting items most needed in your area. Project Planner: Food Collection Initiative
- Write a cookbook of inexpensive, healthy, easy-to-make recipes.
- Work with a local school to provide weekend take-home bags of nutritious snacks for children in need. LION Magazine: Summer of Lunches
- Sponsor a cooking class for youth to learn basic cooking skills for healthy living.* Video: Teaching Nutrition to Students in Uruguay
- Create an online resource for planning and portioning meals to reduce household food waste.
Advanced Hunger Project Ideas
- Conduct an assessment of food access in your community. Advocate to local government leaders for additional or improved options in areas of need.
- Support pregnant women and new mothers by ensuring there are comfortable, safe and clean areas for them to nurse in the community. Video: Mothers’ Milk Saves Preemies
- Develop a program to provide underserved students with food before or after school, or during holidays when school is not in session. Project Planner: Children’s Nutritious Breakfast | Video: Jamaica Lions Feed Local Students
- Establish a community or school vegetable garden for residents. Video: Montana Lions Garden Grows | Video: Hawaii Lions Garden Supports Food Bank
Download Service Project Ideas List: Hunger
Visit our Service Launchpad to find more Project Planners
Learn more about the Lions Global Cause: Hunger
* Serve safely. Adhere to local COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, wear a mask and organize virtual gatherings and trainings where possible.
Jacqui MacKenzie is the social media and community manager for Lions Clubs International.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted communities around the world in different ways. To ensure we’re serving safely wherever we live, Lions should follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization or local health authorities. Visit our Serving Safely page for resources that can help you safely serve your community.
