Stomp Out Hunger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in January 2024 by University of North Carolina first-year student Tommy Mierzwa. Upon arriving in Chapel Hill, Mierzwa was struck by the significant number of unhoused individuals in the area and felt compelled to address the issue of food insecurity within the community. This led to the creation of Stomp Out Hunger, which focuses on collecting surplus food from local businesses including restaurants and Greek Life organizations and delivering it to the Community Kitchen in Carrboro—a volunteer-based establishment that provides hot meals to those in need. 

In the early days of Stomp Out Hunger, the organization had only a handful of members and faced logistical challenges in transporting food donations. Without enough volunteers and lacking access to cars, Mierzwa and Vice President Douglas Pratt had to get creative to ensure that meals reached those in need. Determined not to let transportation issues stand in their way, the two would take the J Jones Bus Route to the Community Kitchen in Carrboro, carrying the donated meals in hand. Despite the extra effort and time it took, they remained committed to their mission, making the trip back and forth to ensure that no food went to waste and that the unhoused community received fresh meals. Their dedication in those early months set the foundation for what would become a well-organized and impactful initiative, inspiring others to join the cause and contribute to the fight against hunger.

Since its inception, Stomp Out Hunger has made a notable impact. The organization has donated over 3,200 meals and raised more than $1,800 to support the Community Kitchen. Initially, Mierzwa facilitated food donations from his own fraternity, Sigma Chi. The initiative quickly expanded to include six other Greek Life organizations, with Sigma Chi, Alpha Delta Pi, Pi Beta Phi, and Phi Mu each contributing over 300 meals. Cara Pozsonyi, head chef at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house, praised the seamless process established by the Stomp Out Hunger team for collecting leftover food. 

Looking ahead, Stomp Out Hunger has begun expanding its partnerships beyond Greek Life to include local restaurants and other food providers, further increasing its capacity to serve the unhoused community in Chapel Hill. The organization is also exploring opportunities to raise additional funds to support its mission and broaden its impact. Through these efforts, Stomp Out Hunger strives to create a community where nutritious meals are accessible to all, effectively addressing food insecurity one meal at a time.