Food insecurity is about more than empty shelves.

Transportation barriers, housing instability, underemployment, rising food costs, access to services, and countless other challenges can prevent someone from accessing basic needs. There is no single cause, and no single solution.

Real progress will require our entire community (nonprofits, businesses, technologists, volunteers, and neighbors) working together to make meaningful strides towards a hunger-free Iowa.

That's why we're bringing together the people who understand these challenges alongside the people who build technology. Together, we can create practical solutions that make a lasting impact.

Hack Away Hunger is a 30-day innovation challenge designed to give teams time to build sustainable solutions—not just a weekend prototype.

The experience includes:

• [Sept 10th] Kickoff Event: Meet community leaders, hear firsthand stories about food insecurity, and explore the problem space. Register at join.hackawayhunger.org!
• Two Weeks of Ideation: Form teams, research challenges, and begin designing your solution. (Project proposals are due Sept 17th at midnight.)
• [Sept 24th–26th] 48-Hour Accelerator Hackathon: Bring your ideas to life during the in-person charity hackathon. Snacks, meals, and beverages will be provided.
• Final Two Weeks: Polish your project, complete stretch goals, and prepare your presentation.
• [Oct 10th] Final Showcase: Present your solution to a panel of judges, compete for cash prizes, and celebrate the innovation, collaboration, and impact created by the Hack Away Hunger community.
• Post Hack Support: If you’d like to keep working with the nonprofits you meet at our hack hunger event let them know you’d like to volunteer.

• Community Impact (30%)
  How effectively does the project address food insecurity? Judges will consider its potential to create meaningful, measurable benefits for individuals, nonprofits, and the community.
• Innovation (20%)
  How original is the solution? Judges will evaluate the creativity of the idea, its approach to solving the problem, and whether it offers a unique perspective or capability.
• Technical Execution (20%)
  How well was the project built? Judges will consider functionality, code quality, technical complexity, and the effective use of tools, APIs, AI, or other technologies.
• Feasibility & Sustainability (15%)
  Can this solution realistically be adopted and expanded? Judges will evaluate practicality, scalability, maintainability, and long-term potential.
• User Experience & Design (10%)
  Is the solution intuitive and accessible? Judges will assess usability, accessibility, and how well the design serves the needs of its intended users.
• Presentation (5%)
  Did the team clearly communicate their project? Judges will evaluate the quality of the demo, explanation of the problem and solution, and overall presentation.