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

Hunger Action Month may be behind us, but there's still time to make a difference whether from home, out in the community, or at the ballot box. 

Across central and eastern North Carolina, nearly 630,000 children, adults, and seniors face food insecurity. We are living in the greatest hunger crisis in a generation, but together, we can face this challenge head-on.

At the Food Bank, we work across the aisle to build bipartisan support for SNAP funding, food purchases from local farmers, and many decisions that impact what families put on their plate every day. And when elected officials see the impact of hunger up close — whether at a food distribution, volunteer shift, or an advocacy event — these experiences inform the policy discussions that decide legislation. That's why we were so excited to welcome two members of our Congressional delegation recently to support our work in New Bern and Raleigh.

We're grateful for leaders across the political spectrum who support policies that help address food insecurity in our communities. You can join them in the fight against hunger by getting engaged this election season!

Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC2) worked with Food Bank volunteers packing food boxes for Raleigh-area seniors. 

After spending time with dedicated volunteers to learn about their personal commitment to ending hunger, Congresswoman Ross sat down with Food Bank CEO, Amy Beros to discuss the impact of worsening food insecurity in the region. Between federal funding cuts and the rising cost of living, our hunger relief network has seen anywhere from 20 to 60% more visits from families seeking help over the past year.

Our state and local leaders need to recognize their responsibility because the community is made up of everyone.

– Congresswoman Deborah Ross

Congresswoman Ross previously visited food distributions in the Raleigh area, listening to neighbors navigating new rules and restrictions on federal nutrition programs. With more than 110,000 people facing food insecurity in the 2nd Congressional District (Wake County), the need for support is greater than any point in recent memory — and it's incredibly important that leaders hear first-hand from community members who are impacted by policy decisions.

Dr. Murphy recently served as the keynote for our America250 celebration in New Bern with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As part of the events, the Church generously donated enough food to fuel 100,000 meals (that's 120,000 pounds!) for families across the Triangle, Eastern NC, and the Cape Fear Region.  Murphy discussed the importance of these donations and the rich agricultural resources that help North Carolina families keep food on the table. 

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Dr. Murphy. used this visit to deepen connections with the Food Bank and our community partners. Congressman Murphy received firsthand accounts of what food banks are facing at a time of rising costs and federal funding losses. Our work highlights the importance of federal funding for SNAP and nutritious food from local farmers. We are working across the aisle with elected leaders like Congressman Murphy to advance our vision to end hunger for good.