Black History and the Fight to End Hunger

Hands For Humanity Community Development Corporation (CDC) has been serving Kinston families for three decades as the Food Bank's first partner agency in the area. Last year, Hands For Humanity provided over 150,000 meals for families facing hunger!

Recently, Food Pantry Director Hilda Royal has seen an increase of up to 35 people a day as food and gas prices soar. Hands For Humanity is meeting the hunger crisis head-on with support from Food Lion FEEDS. 6 days a week, Mrs. Hilda and her team pick up Food Lion donations to create meal boxes for families. In 2025, Food Lion FEEDS gave over 66,000 meals through retail donations to Hands For Humanity! Food Lion's dedication to Kinston pantries helps keep our network strong in eastern North Carolina.

In 1999, Hands For Humanity became partners with the Food Bank to serve families facing food insecurity. As a lifelong resident of Kinston, Mrs. Hilda noticed a dramatic increase in neighbors needing food assistance. In Lenoir County, 1 in 5 people are food insecure. And for Black and Hispanic communities, 1 in 3 face hunger. That's more than double the rate of their White counterparts. These persistent racial disparities are influenced by factors like unemployment and poverty rates, as well as historical policies and practices that created barriers for generations. 

We're having an increase of 32 to 35 people a day. That just started a couple of weeks ago. And the food stamps have been changed. So peopel are hungry. They don't have the money to go and buy this and that...Either you buy your medicine, or buy gas, or buy food. 

– Hilda Royal Hands On Humanity Food Pantry Director

With the help of Food Lion FEEDS, Hands For Humanity provides nutritious meals for families struggling to put food on the table. Mrs. Hilda and her team pick up produce and bakery donations from Food Lion 6 days a week, all year round. Food Lion store managers are often amazed by how many families were served by their retail donations. 

I can tell you that nobody goes away hungry. That is the first thing we tell volunteers: nobody goes away hungry. 

– Roxann Landsdowne Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Chair of the Board

Hands For Humanity's success is a reflection of what we can accomplish when local communities join with partners like Food Lion Feeds for a common cause.