9/11 Day is the nonprofit organization, created by 9/11 families, that was responsible for establishing September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under federal law. 9/11 Day now works closely with AmeriCorps to implement a number of important grant programs that encourage volunteerism in observance of the 9/11 anniversary. The overall mission of this program is to transform the 9/11 anniversary into the nation’s largest annual day of service, and to encourage tens of millions of Americans to join together in unity and in service on 9/11 in tribute to those lost and injured in the 9/11 attacks, along with the many others who rose in service in response to the tragedy. Across the nation, among our many programs, 9/11 Day organizes large meal packing events in observance of the federally-recognized 9/11 National Day of Service. In 2023, we staged 19 projects, which mobilized 22,000 volunteers and generated seven million meals for Americans at risk of hunger.

In 2023, for the first time, 9/11 Day and AmeriCorps partnered to bring this meal packing program to 11 college campuses, providing students with an opportunity to learn about and remember 9/11 by giving back to their communities. These service events focus on packing healthy non-perishable meals for people who are at risk of hunger, both on campus and in grantee schools’ local communities, while helping build awareness of the 9/11 Day of Service. More than 3,300 students packed 820,000 meals for those in need at their schools, and in their local communities.

Thanks to additional AmeriCorps and private funding, 9/11 Day will be expanding this program in 2024, with the goal of engaging as many as 25+ U.S. college campuses and 10,000 student volunteers to pack and distribute three million meals for those experiencing food insecurity.

A total of up to $500,000 in funding provided by AmeriCorps and 9/11 Day has been set aside to support this program. Grantees select what size event they’d like to stage. Schools must pack a minimum of 50,000 meals, but can choose to organize a larger project, up to 100,000 meals. Grantees will then receive 50% of the costs of the meals they plan to pack, and will be required to “match’ that amount. In other words, for a 50,000 meal packing event, grantees will receive $10,000 in seed funding, and will be required to raise the additional $10,000. For a 100,000 meal event, they receive $20,000 in seed funding and will be required to raise an additional $20,000. Matching funds will need to be raised by June 1, 2024.

Usually, a school would need to recruit a minimum of 200 volunteers, each of whom would pack meals for about 90 minutes. Or the school could shorten the meal packing period to about 45 minutes, which would allow more student-volunteers to participate.

To be considered for a grant under this program, an official administrator or faculty representative of your school or student organization will need to complete an online application. Here is the link: APPLICATION LINK. The deadline to submit an application is FEBRUARY 23rd, 2024. Winners will benotified no later than March 1st, 2024. Applicants will need to demonstrate an ability to organize a project of this nature, with the capacity to raise the matching funds required.

Yes, all fully accredited universities or colleges in the United States are eligible to apply.

Each grantee school selects and coordinates with their own individual distribution partner, or partners. They can be local food banks, on-campus pantries, local non profits, churches, or other similar organizations.

The program provides grantees with all equipment and meal ingredients, event planning tools/guidebook and support hotline, partial funding and fundraising link (optional). In addition to raising a portion of funds (see above), grantees will be required to find and manage venues, to recruit/manage staff and meal packing volunteers, and to make arrangements with a local food bank or other beneficiary re: donation of meals.

Notification of intent to apply:
Nov 15, 2023

Application Deadline:
Dec 15, 2023

Grantees informed:
Jan 26, 2024

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]