{"id":1002362,"date":"2026-09-10T08:03:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T12:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/toast-changemakers-program-returns-offering-150000-in-grants-to-restaurants-fighting-hunger\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T08:03:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T12:03:56","slug":"toast-changemakers-program-returns-offering-150000-in-grants-to-restaurants-fighting-hunger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/toast-changemakers-program-returns-offering-150000-in-grants-to-restaurants-fighting-hunger\/","title":{"rendered":"Toast Changemakers Program Returns, Offering $150,000 in Grants to Restaurants Fighting Hunger"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Toast Changemakers Program Returns, Offering $150,000 in Grants to Restaurants Fighting Hunger<\/b><\/p>\n

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–
\nToast, the global technology platform built for restaurant and retail businesses, today announced applications are open for the Toast Changemakers Program<\/b>, its grant program supporting restaurants fighting food insecurity. For the second year, Toast will award $150,000 in grants to 15 U.S. restaurants, with each recipient receiving $10,000 to support and scale their community feeding efforts. The program is part of Toast’s $5 million, five-year commitment to combating food insecurity, announced last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\nFood insecurity remains a critical issue in the U.S., affecting 13.7% of households in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/a>. The Toast Changemakers Program works to support those who go above and beyond to give back to their communities in the fight against hunger, drawing more than 800 applications from restaurants across the country in its first year.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOne of the hospitality community\u2019s greatest superpowers is its unique ability to bring people together. The Toast Changemakers Program harnesses Toast\u2019s network and resources to support an industry-wide movement and accelerate our impact on the fight against food insecurity,\u201d said Aman Narang, CEO of Toast. \u201cWe were proud to support 15 incredible community leaders in 2025, and we look forward to celebrating and bolstering the efforts of a new cohort of Changemakers this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nIn partnership with Hello Alice<\/a> and Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN)<\/a>, Toast named its inaugural cohort<\/a> of grant recipients in November 2025, which included businesses like Azalina’s<\/a>, which hosts free community dinners in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, The Porch Prescott<\/a>, a community-oriented coffee shop in Prescott, AZ, which partners with local community organizations to distribute meals and other essentials, and Vegans on the Run<\/a>, based in Shreveport, LA, whose complimentary events include pop ups that provide meals to seniors and free cooking classes for youth. In addition to grant money, Toast hosted the 2025 cohort in Boston for an opportunity to connect with each other, along with Toast leaders and industry experts.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cAs restaurant owners we are so busy. It\u2019s easy to get so focused on the work that you can become alone and isolated. It was wonderful to see how many people are also trying to maintain thriving businesses, while doing great work in their communities,\u201d said Seth Pacey, co-owner of Lola\u2019s Modern Kitchen<\/a> in Seymore, Indiana, who attended the convening with his wife and co-owner, Tonya, and their 9-year-old daughter, Lola. \u201cSome of us had started our efforts recently, while others had more experience. Meeting with other Changemakers was a great opportunity to learn and be inspired, giving us the opportunity to take our lessons back with us to amplify and scale our impact in our hometowns.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apply for the 2026 Toast Changemakers Program
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<\/b>The application for the 2026 Toast Changemakers Program is now open. The program is open to all eligible U.S. restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and bars, not exclusively Toast customers, as Toast aims to support changemaking solutions across the industry. Key details and dates include:<\/p>\n