![Quote graphic with a photo in the right bottown corner of a woman with long hari and glasses cutting vegetables while wearing a light-colored sweater. The quote is on a dark blue background with the Food Bank logo at the top. Rachel Ezzel, Family and Consumer Science Agent, Duplin County Extension Center, says: “Food is family to me. It’s our community and livelihood and culture. It’s the breakfast biscuits the farmers eat together at the corner store and the chicken noodle soup your mom makes when you don’t feel well...[Food is] both the hard work of growing it and the comfort of sharing it with the people you love."](https://foodbankcenc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rachel-Ezzel-Quote-320x202.jpg)
For National Nutrition Month, our Community Nutrition Team asked four community partners to share stories about how food connects them to their community. Food Bank Partner Rachel Ezzel promotes healthy eating habits inspired by the Mediterranean Diet. LEARN MORE ABOUT NUTRITION EDUCATION Everyone in the world needs [...]
For National Nutrition Month, our Community Nutrition Team asked four community partners to share stories about how food connects them to their community. Cooking Instructor Betty Nzau makes classes accessible and fun for students with visual impairments. LEARN MORE ABOUT NUTRITION EDUCATION Everyone in the world [...]
Right now, more than 173,000 people under the age of 18 in our communities don't know where their next meal might come from. That's one in five kids and teens facing hunger across central and eastern North Carolina. And these challenges are even worse during the summer months when school meals are [...]
Right now, more than 173,000 people under the age of 18 in our communities don't know where their next meal might come from. That's one in five kids and teens facing hunger across central and eastern North Carolina. And these challenges are even worse during the summer months when school meals are [...]
Service Insights is an initiative to gain a better understanding of the specific goals and needs of local neighborhoods through direct input from community members. Service Insights on Meal Connect (SIMC) is a secure, private platform used by the Food Bank and several of [...]
Sponsored by the Food Bank, our friends at The Farmers B.A.G. offer incredible opportunities for local growers and producers through their Farm School program Support Local Farmers Join us to uplift small farmers and invest in a stronger, sustainable agricultural future! Established in [...]
Year-round, we activate our disaster response plans in support of communities recovering from major storms. When severe weather is on the way, the Food Bank is prepared to respond. Delivery trucks and mobile refrigeration units are fueled up; staff and volunteers ready emergency kits; and our production kitchen goes into high gear [...]
Food Bank branches have activated our disaster preparation plans as we work through the aftermath of major storms. Emergency power is ready to go; delivery trucks and mobile refrigeration units are fueled up; and our commercial kitchen is in high gear preparing ready-to-heat meals for impacted families. We're actively working to connect [...]
We know that kids thrive when they have access to no-cost breakfast and lunch at school. Research consistently shows that healthy school meals help kids pay attention and stay engaged — which leads to better grades, more consistent attendance, and higher graduation rates. It's why we're big fans of the School [...]
A new refrigerated van boosts The Journey Ministry Pantry's efforts with local grocery retailers, in partnership with the Food Bank and Walmart Foundation Families throughout Franklin County will soon have new options to access fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy products thanks to the efforts of [...]
