They were just kids volunteering in their community when something stopped them in their tracks.

Among the people waiting for food were children their own age.

Thirteen-year-old Aashrita Kaza and her brother, Anish, couldn’t shake what they had seen. They had volunteered at local organizations expecting to help people facing hardship, but seeing young children standing in food-assistance lines made the issue of hunger feel much closer to home.

Instead of simply walking away, the South Florida siblings decided to do something about it.

Their answer was surprisingly simple: pizza.

In 2024, Aashrita and Anish launched Pizza for a Purpose, a community-driven app that connects local pizzerias, grocery stores and individual donors with charities and nonprofits serving people in need.

The goal is to make it easier for businesses with food to give and for charitable organizations to get that food into the hands of families who need it.

The effort has already grown well beyond the siblings’ original idea. According to the organization, more than 25,000 slices of pizza have now been donated through the initiative.

And these aren’t just boxes sitting in a warehouse.

The app helps connect businesses with nearby organizations so fresh pizza can be delivered and distributed to people in the community.

One of those partners is The Pantry of Broward, which serves more than 600 people every month. Through its partnership with Pizza for a Purpose, the pantry receives fresh, hot pizzas that can then be given directly to its clients.

For some families, the pizza becomes a meal they can take home and share. For seniors living on tight budgets, it can be something they rarely get to enjoy.

The impact has also changed the way the siblings look at their own project. What began with something they witnessed while volunteering has turned into an effort involving local businesses, nonprofits and everyday donors.

Aashrita has said the reactions from people receiving the pizza are what make the work worthwhile. For her and her brother, the project is not simply about delivering food — it’s about finding a practical way for people in the community to help their neighbors.

And there is another way to get involved.

People who want to contribute don’t have to own a restaurant or run a charity. Through the Pizza for a Purpose app, individuals can also make donations to help provide fresh meals to families facing food insecurity.

Two siblings noticed something most people might have simply walked past.

They decided they weren’t going to ignore it — and turned a pizza into a way to help fight hunger in their own community.