PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Brown University’s chapter of Challah for Hunger tackles more than touchdowns — they’re fighting hunger one sweet treat at a time. 

Ahead of Super Bowl LIX, members of the student organization gathered Sunday, Feb. 9, to bake batches of chocolate chip and sugar cookies decorated with the colors of the competing teams — green for the Philadelphia Eagles and red for the Kansas City Chiefs — for a bake sale benefiting anti-hunger organizations. 

“In the Jewish community, a big value is ‘tzedakah,’ which essentially means ‘charity,’” said Brown junior Hannah Stoch, who serves as co-president of Challah for Hunger alongside fellow junior Eliana Alweis. “It’s always been instilled in me that giving back to the community in whatever way you can — whether it’s with your time, resources, whatever it may be — is very important.” 

Challah for Hunger convenes students around the tradition of baking challah — a braided bread in Jewish cuisine usually eaten on Shabbat, holidays or ceremonial occasions — and a variety of other baked goods. The group holds monthly sales with the goal of raising at least $1,000 per semester, and all proceeds are donated to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Mazon, the group’s national parent organization. 

Challah for Hunger’s game-day cookie sale was smaller than their typical offering, in large part due to a nationwide egg shortage. With just one dozen eggs to work with, Stoch said the students ruled out the option of a full challah bake, and instead got creative in what recipes they used. Still, the impact was big. 

Stoch said picking up a sweet treat is an easy, accessible way for the Brown community to make a difference while raising awareness for a social issue that can sometimes feel invisible. 

“A lot of people may not realize how big food insecurity can be and how many ways there are to combat it,” she said. 

While food pantries are an invaluable resource for those in need, Stoch said that they may need to be selective about what kinds of food donations they can accept. Directly donating funds helps break down that barrier, allowing each organization to use the money to meet the most immediate needs of the communities they serve. 

“There’s something special about the feeling of, ‘Oh, that piece of challah that I braided and baked was sold, and that money is going to people who need it,’” Stoch said. “It’s really meaningful.”