COUGS AGAINST HUNGER
Help Fight Food Insecurity in our Provo and Orem Community
Bigger & Better Challenge
BYU’s student team is taking on the 2026 Community Action Services & Food Bank Bigger & Better Challenge!
Our goal is simple: increase flourishing in our community by supporting our local food bank.
We started with one simple can of green beans. Since then, we’ve been out in the community, trading that can for something Bigger & Better one item or experience at a time.
We’re competing with teams across Utah County through nine rounds of Bigger & Better trades. At the end of the challenge, all nine items and experiences will be auctioned online, giving YOU the chance to bid on something truly bigger & better, all while supporting the work of Community Action Services & Food Bank.
Check out the items we’ve collected below, and sign up for auction updates to be notified when bidding opens!
Auction Items
Challenge Round 1
Cougar Blvd Sign Duplicate
A genuine piece of Provo history. Whether you’re decorating a fan cave, garage, or office, this duplicate Cougar Blvd sign is the ultimate conversation starter for any BYU fan. You won't find this at a local home decor store!
Challenge Round 2
BYU Store Package
Get your hands on this BYU Minky Couture, a BYU-branded Hammock, and a one-of-a-kind wearable Iglu Sleeping Bag, great for cold BYU Football games! Learn more about these items by visiting https://www.byustore.com
Challenge Round 3
Cosmo Appearance & Autographed Football
Imagine having our favorite Hall of Fame award-winning mascot drop by your next party or family event. You get an official live appearance from Cosmo himself, plus a 2026 football signed by players on the BYU Football team to keep on your shelf forever. Guaranteed to make your next gathering unforgettable. Learn more about booking a Cosmo appearance here https://byucougars.com/book-cosmo
Challenge Round 4
Vocal Point & Noteworthy Concert Tickets and Meet-and-Greet
Get 2 packages full of goodies from renowned acapella groups, Vocal Point and Noteworthy, at BYU. Each package includes 8 tickets to a concert of your choosing (16 total) plus a box of limited-edition merch. On top of that, get access to a VIP experience exclusive meet and greet with the singers! You won’t want to miss out on this musical experience. Learn more about Vocal Point and Noteworthy performances here: https://pam.byu.edu/performance-groups/vocal-point-noteworthy/
Challenge Round 5
Y Mountain Press Publishing Package
Have a finished manuscript waiting on your laptop? A collection of recipes you're dreaming of making into a cookbook? Or a family history book you want to bring to life? This package gives you the hands-on support you need to get published, covering cover design, book layout, and consulting on your publishing strategy. Browse Y Mountain Press's catalog here https://www.byustore.com/books-main/books/y-mountain-press
Bigger & Better Challenge FAQs
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A challenge hosted by the Community Action Services and Food Bank to gain support from the community in the form of donated items and experiences, which will then be auctioned off to support the families in our local Orem and Provo community who are struggling with food insecurity.
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Anyone! The online auction will be open to anyone who would like to participate.
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Sign up for updates and get notified when the online auction goes live. Proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Community Action Services and Food Bank to help our local community members in need.
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By supporting the local Community Action Services and Food Bank so they can continue to provide resources to members of our community in need.
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Food insecurity “refers to the lack of regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development, which includes an active and healthy life. There are different levels of food insecurity: mild food insecurity—the uncertainty regarding the ability to obtain food; moderate food insecurity—compromising food quality and variety or reducing quantity (including skipping meals); and severe food insecurity—going without food for a day or more.” (Ostvig, Ellie “Undernutrition Among Children in Guatemala” Ballard Brief. March 2023. ballardbrief.byu.edu)
To learn more about food insecurity on BYU Campus, read up here BYU Learn About Food Insecurity
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In Utah County, 9% of households experience food insecurity. In Provo, the food-insecure population is made up of college students, low-income families, and seniors.
41% of Utah county residents qualify for food stamps, which requires a household income of less than 130% of the poverty line. Provo School District has the highest rate of children in poverty in Utah County.
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Yes! If you are a BYU student, visit this website: BYU Food and Housing Insecurity. If you are not a BYU student, but live in Provo, visit Community Action Provo to learn about getting help. If none of those apply to you, an online search of “food pantry near me” is a great place to start and get in contact with organizations that can help you with receiving food assistance.
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The Ballard Center for Social Impact empowers people with the faith and skills to create meaningful change, enhancing human flourishing and reducing suffering. We work primarily with BYU students through classes, internships, and partnerships to provide meaningful opportunities to practice social impact. For a broader audience, we make our resources available to all persons interested in learning how to “Do Good. Better.”
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Do Good. Better. is an invitation for all of us to work together to alleviate human suffering and promote human flourishing. The Do Good. Better. methodology is rooted in what we call the Social Impact Cycle, a cyclical practice for solving social problems. Learn more by watching our mini course on Do Good. Better. here!