Shipt and Congressional Hunger Center Announce New Year-Long Partnership to Address the Root Causes of Hunger

Supporting the Hunger Center’s Root Causes Initiative, the partnership will fund new research to help communities understand various dimensions of food security

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, September 22, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — As Hunger Action Month calls attention to the millions of Americans facing food insecurity, the Congressional Hunger Center and Shipt today announce a new year-long partnership focused on understanding and addressing the conditions that cause hunger in the first place.

Shipt, a Birmingham, Ala.-based retail technology company powering same-day delivery, is now the new Cornerstone Sponsor of the Hunger Center’s Root Causes strategic initiative. The partnership reflects a shared belief that ending hunger requires more comprehensive solutions beyond simply ensuring food is available in an emergency.

Food insecurity is shaped by a complex combination of economic, social, and environmental factors such as employment, affordable housing and health care, and physical access to nutritious food. Shipt’s sponsorship will aid the work of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows in solving the root causes of hunger in the U.S. It will also support the development of new research designed to simultaneously measure three interconnected dimensions of food insecurity, including whether households can financially afford food, whether they are able to consistently access a balanced and nutritious diet, and whether they experience persistent anxiety and uncertainty about their ability to obtain food.

“Since the Hunger Center opened its doors in 1993, we’ve seen so many promising programs, initiatives, and projects designed as life preservers for people experiencing hunger,” said Shannon Maynard, executive director at the Congressional Hunger Center. “These programs save lives. But we’ve also seen that if you don’t consider the contributing factors of the problem, the people they serve are left treading water. By listening to and following the leadership of people with firsthand lived experience of poverty and hunger, and by trying to understand the underlying causes of the problem, we can create the solutions that will end hunger in our lifetime.”

The research tool will be developed in Michigan with potential for broader replication in other cities. By bringing these dimensions together in a single measure, the project aims to shed light on some of the holistic challenges of hunger so that communities, practitioners, and policymakers can better understand and gain more actionable insights to solve it.

For Shipt, the partnership builds on the company’s commitment to ensure that nutritious food is accessible – regardless of ZIP code. With the belief that the greatest change happens by those closest to the issues, they achieve this work by investing in community-led programs, partners and solutions. Shipt’s social impact work recognizes that food access is not solely a question of whether food exists within communities, but whether people can afford and access it in ways that work for their lives.

“We’re incredibly excited to partner with the Congressional Hunger Center in support of the Root Causes strategic initiative and help drive research around the lived experiences of those facing food insecurity,” shared Ricardo Vargas, chief people & community officer at Shipt. “Food insecurity impacts millions across the country, and we believe that this challenge cannot be solved with short-term solutions or quick fixes alone. This tool and partnership exemplify the work we’re passionate about: uplifting and empowering those striving to make an impact in their communities every day.”

The partnership comes during Hunger Action Month, started by Feeding America™ and observed each September to raise awareness and promote action to end hunger in America.

About the Congressional Hunger Center
Founded in 1993 by bipartisan Members of Congress, the Congressional Hunger Center is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger by developing leaders, advancing research and policy solutions, and strengthening food systems in the U.S. and globally. Through fellowships, internships, and educational programs, the Hunger Center invests in the next generation while working to address the root causes of food insecurity.

About Shipt
Shipt’s technology connects customers with local shoppers who handpick and deliver items from their favorite local and national stores. As a company that connects people to the things they need, Shipt is uniquely positioned to help reduce barriers to food access. Shipt’s social impact work aims to plant the seeds for sustainable transformation through empowering and amplifying local leaders, supporting innovative research, and using our technical expertise to close logistical gaps. Since 2022, Shipt-supported organizations have supplied over 5.3 million meals and served nearly 1.2 million food-insecure individuals.

Laura Tarre
Congressional Hunger Center
ltarre@hungercenter.org

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