URGENT ACTION NEEDED
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced massive cuts to programs that help food banks and school districts purchase food from local growers and producers. This will mean nearly $30 million cut from small farms in North Carolina — and millions fewer meals for kids and families facing hunger in our community.
Tell state and federal elected leaders to save funding for Local Food Purchases!
(it only takes two minutes to make our voices heard)
Public Policy & Advocacy
Advocate to End Hunger for Good
Across central and eastern North Carolina, more than 607,000 children, adults, and seniors don’t know where their next meal might come from in any given week. It’s the highest rate of hunger we’ve seen since the Great Recession — higher than the peak of the pandemic.
Alongside our efforts to meet the rising demand for food assistance, the Food Bank works to empower our communities to build long-term solutions to hunger together. At the local, state, and federal levels, our non-partisan advocacy efforts push for public policies and investments that help us move closer to a future where no one goes hungry.
A Strong Farm Bill that Supports Families and Farmers
Right now, more than 607 people face food insecurity in our region — and we’re grateful to for the countless farmers who feed our communities and are part of the movement to end hunger.
That’s why we’re urging our Senators and Representatives to pass a strong U.S. Farm Bill that:
- Invests in nutrition and agriculture support initiatives;
- Ensures SNAP grocery benefits keep up with rising prices; and
- Expands programs that help food banks meet the rising demand for food assistance
The Farm Bill only comes up only once or twice in a decade, so it’s critical that our elected leaders get it right.
Join us in contacting your legislators today — it only takes two minutes to make a big difference!
Protect & Strengthen Nutrition Programs
Federal nutrition benefits lift millions of families and individuals out of poverty, alleviate food insecurity, and have positive economic impact in the communities we serve.
The Food Bank operates U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition programs such as TEFAP, SNAP, CSFP, and childhood nutrition programs. Through the budget process and other actions, the Food Bank advocates for the protection, and where warranted, expansion, of these programs to support individuals and families most at risk of being food insecure.
Local Food Donations & Purchasing
Our network can’t distribute more than 103 million meals each year without consistent access to donated and low-cost food. That access requires policies and regulations that support local farmers and producers, promote sustainability, and encourage connections to surplus food. And we do all we can to secure state and federal investments that offset the cost to harvest, pack, and transport nutritious, locally-grown food.
Right now, major cuts are being planned to federal programs that help schools and food banks purchase food from local farmers. We need elected leaders at all levels to understand the importance of this funding.
Community Health & Well-being
The Food Bank not only feeds people who are hungry; we work to empower community health. The nutritional value of the foods people can access and eat has a profound impact on our community’s overall health, as does access to services like affordable healthcare, housing support, and education.
The Food Bank prioritizes partnerships, policies, and programs that positively impact the health and wellness of people we serve. These efforts are at real risk if planned cuts to Healthy Opportunities and Medicaid are implemented at the state and federal level.
The NC General Assembly will soon vote on whether to continue a vital program that provides more than 833,000 healthy meals to local families — and lowers healthcare costs along the way. We need state legislators to protect Healthy Opportunities in our communities!
Want to learn more?
Join Our Movement to End Hunger For Good
There are a host of ways to make a difference right now in the fight to end hunger. If you’re able, please take a minute to lend your time, your voice, or your financial support as we work to meet rising challenges head on!