From Our CEO: Hunger doesn’t pause when attention fades — and neither can we.

Over the past year, we've seen powerful reminders of what it means when advocacy moves from conversation to action. On November 14, Congressman Greg Murphy (R-NC03) joined a student group at our Greenville Branch to sort and bag sweet potatoes — getting his hands directly into the work that keeps fresh food moving across eastern North Carolina. And today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC02) and her team spent the morning at our Pop-Up Market at Saint Aug's, helping distribute food and hearing directly from neighbors about the challenges so many of us are facing.

These visits weren’t stereotypical photo ops; they were moments of genuine connection. When our elected leaders roll up their sleeves beside volunteers, staff, and neighbors, it signals something important: the relationships we’re building and the advocacy you champion every day are working. We are opening doors, deepening understanding, and creating the kind of shared experience that drives smarter, more compassionate policy decisions.

This is why our engagement matters. Hunger is not theoretical — it lives in classrooms, kitchens, and communities across our region. When leaders see that up close, when they feel the pace of a distribution or the weight of a box of produce, they carry those experiences back to the policy tables where decisions are made. Thank you to everyone who has worked to make these moments possible. They strengthen our mission, amplify our voice, and bring us one step closer to a future where no one goes hungry.