Black History and the Fight to End Hunger

March is Women’s History Month – a time to honor and celebrate women’s achievements and contributions to American History. Women pioneered the hunger relief system in building mutual aid networks and advocating for federal nutrition programs. 

Food Bank Leaders in the Fight to End Hunger 

Black leaders and organizations have played a foundational role in advancing food security and shaping the broader movement to end hunger in America. From mutual aid networks formed during and after enslavement to Black church–led food pantries, cooperatives, and school feeding efforts of the 20th century, Black communities have long addressed hunger where public systems failed. 

We're celebrating just a few of the 'Hunger Relief Heroes' in our network who go above and beyond to nourish families facing food insecurity. 

Food Bank Founder Barbara Oates 

Each month, hundreds of vehicles pull through the lot of the old Inborden School in Halifax County to participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program — 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. 

This vital resource is made possible by volunteers like Joyce Bobbit – known to longtime Enfield residents as “Cookie.” She is a fixture at our senior food box distribution, where she greets seniors like family. 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. . 

I know practically everybody that comes through this line, and they know me. That connection makes people feel comfortable. It gives folks the space to ask for help when they need it.

– Joyce "Cookie" Bobbit

Food Bank President & CEO Amy Beros

Our partners Stanley Hughes and Linda Leach-Hughes represent the rich legacy of Black farmers who fought for land access and cultural foodways. The Hughes family has owned and operated Pine Knot Farms for over 110 years. This farm is the site of both tradition and innovation as the first African American-owned farm to be certified organic in 1996. Mr. Hughes, a third-generation farmer, was born and raised on Pine Knot Farms. The same land that nourished his family now provides tens of thousands of meals each year for families facing hunger. 

Produce from Pine Knot Farms is celebrated as some of the best in the country. Their collards, sweet potatoes, and tobacco are grown the "old-time way" with organic fertilizer and natural pest control. And through their partnership with the Food Bank, Pine Knot Farms feeds 180 families per week in the historic Hayti community in Durham. Mrs. Leach-Hughes explained what this has meant for seniors, in particular.

We found out recently that some of these senior citizens are actually not buying any food from the grocery store because they are having to save what little income they have to go towards their rent. If it wasn’t for them getting food from the Food Bank, they wouldn’t have any food at all. If that doesn’t touch your heart, I don’t know what would.

– Linda Leach-Hughes Pine Knot Farms

Former Food Bank Vice President of Partner Services & Public Policy, Earline Middleton

Immanuel and Valarie Jarvis, owners of Jireh Family Farm, are keeping the farming tradition alive as Food Bank partners. In just two years, Jireh Family Farm provided enough protein to fuel over 100,000 meals for families facing hunger. Their impact is immeasurable. Jireh Family Farm provides whole chicken, ground beef, and pork across the Food Bank's network of partner agencies in Raleigh and Durham. The work of Immanuel and Valarie is crucial in preserving the strong legacy of Black farmers engaged in local hunger relief efforts. 

A century ago, Black-owned farms made up nearly 16 million acres of land. But following generations of violence, land theft, and discriminatory lending practices, nearly 90% of that land has been lost. Today, less than 2% of farms are owned by Black families – at a time when 1 in 4 Black households face hunger in North Carolina. 

I think our ancestors always wanted to have an opportunity to be able to take the produce and the sweat of their brow and turn that into money to be able to support their family, to be able to have something that could pass on to their children’s children.

– Immanuel Jarvis, co-owner of Jireh Family Farm