Hundreds of vehicles pull through the lot of a former Halifax County school each month for the Food Bank’s senior food box distribution — providing a healthy supply of fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy, whole grains, and pantry staples to people on fixed incomes who are at least 60 years old. Part of the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the distributions are a a vital resource made possible by volunteers like Joyce Bobbit – known to longtime Enfield residents as “Cookie”.
Cookie is a fixture at the old Inborden School, where she attended through her teenage years. Food insecurity has risen sharply in the decades since, with nearly one in three seniors now living at or below the state’s poverty line. She sees plenty of neighbors and classmates at each distribution.
“I know practically everybody that comes through this line, and they know me,” Cookie shared after catching
up with another longtime resident. “That connection makes people feel comfortable. It gives folks the space to
ask for help when they need it.”
Though Cookie has long worked to support fellow seniors facing challenges, the drive-through program has made local resources much more accessible.
“I’d help people get groceries, bring a plate to neighbors when I cooked. This is so much more,” Cookie said. “People have a great experience because we’re out here every month – and the food can last even longer. I’ve spoken to so many people, and they tell me what we’re doing is important.”
Rain or shine, Cookie’s been a presence at almost every distribution in Enfield for more than eight years, with only one date postponed by a hurricane.
“It’s a blessing for us to be out here in the hot sun and bad weather. We’re here for the community, no matter what.”
Food Bank volunteers are the backbone of every aspect of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program — from selecting and packaging easy-to-handle food boxes in our central warehouses, to staffing drive-up distributions in communities throughout the region. Learn more about the process in this video and find opportunities to get involved!
