Black History and the Fight to End Hunger

The LGBTQ Center of Durham was founded in 2015 to become the front porch of the LGBTQ community. Their vision is to create a community where all LGBTQ+ lived experiences are affirmed, supported, and celebrated. 

Together with the LGBTQ Center, we're building a world where no one goes hungry. We are committed to providing nourishing food in an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and celebrated for who they are. 

As a Food Bank partner agency, the LGBTQ Center receives locally grown, nutritious food for their Joifull Bellies Food Pantry. In 2025, the LGBTQ Center provided over 10,000 meals to 830 community members. We spoke with Operations Manager Alix Adrian (he/they) about the impact of gender-affirming care for queer communities facing hunger. 

Joifull Bellies Food Pantry has been serving the community for just two years, but Alix has seen a growing impact. Joifull Bellies is a choice pantry where visitors can schedule an appointment to shop for groceries. Over the last several months, visitors to the pantry have doubled from 30 to 35 shoppers a month to nearly 65. Alix reflected on the rising cost of gas, housing, and groceries with a simple phrase: "The world is a lot harder place out there."

For Alix, hunger in queer communities means not eating for an extended period of time. Many shoppers have jobs, but may be housing insecure. They're facing impossible choices between paying for food or rent. When an intern asked participants about the benefit of the food pantry, one respondent said, "I'm not hungry." 

Joifull Bellies is more than a food pantry; it's a community. A family facing health challenges donates food they can't use back to the pantry. 

-choice shop

-by appointment

-can visit closet for clothing

-two years old | thanks to a county grant, they were able to open up a food pantry 

-program for queer survivors 

-the one social service that

Over the last year, we've gone from serving an average of 30 or 35 folks a month to these last couple of months, closer to 65. The world is a lot harder place out there. 

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

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