Our Mission
The mission of Chop Out Hunger is to create an entire generation that doesn’t know hunger through innovative and collaborative outreach partnerships.
“You Have to Do Something”
CHOP Out Hunger was founded out of a deep concern for the well-being of children facing food insecurity. The organization began when Dani Ruhf, Founder and CEO, learned from her daughter that if students didn’t have lunch money, they didn’t eat. Disturbed by this reality, Dani took action, creating a backpack program that provided students with food to take home each week, ensuring they had enough to eat over the weekend when school meals were unavailable. In 2019, Dani expanded her efforts by establishing an in-school pantry at one school, offering a more accessible and discreet way for students to receive the food they needed. These initiatives quickly gained momentum, and what started as a grassroots effort soon grew into a significant operation. Today, CHOP Out Hunger serves over 45,000 students weekly across 21 counties in Pennsylvania. The organization has developed a range of programs to meet the diverse needs of food-insecure children and families. The Backpack Program remains a cornerstone of their efforts, while the In-School Pantries have been implemented in numerous schools, helping to reduce the stigma associated with hunger and empowering students to self-advocate. From its humble beginnings, CHOP Out Hunger has grown into a vital community resource, driven by a passionate commitment to ending child hunger. Through its comprehensive and compassionate approach, the organization continues to make a profound impact, ensuring that every child has access to the food they need to thrive.
Our Commitment to Accountability
CHOP is focused on expanding our mission. We believe in being fully transparent to ensure we are making the largest impact.
Guidestar
