Food Bank and Hispanic Federation Partner to Bridge Gaps

This year marked a new chapter in our collaboration with longtime friends at Hispanic Federation, as we worked together to build bridges in Duplin County communities and beyond. Our collaborative efforts aim to address food insecurity, provide nutritional education, and connect residents with essential services to improve overall well-being.

For more than 35 years, Hispanic Federation has worked to empower Latino workers and families through a wide range of programs — including economic development, education opportunities, health services, and civic engagement. Their wide-ranging government and community partnerships include the USDA Food & Farmworker Relief program, a joint effort that has helped nearly 14,000 local farmworkers and meatpackers afford healthcare since 2023.

Hispanic and Latino families face disproportionate hunger in North Carolina, with workers in the agriculture industry experiencing especially high rates of food insecurity. We’re proud to partner with Hispanic Federation to make sure the people who grow and package our food have access to essential resources – most recently through a series of community health fairs. The events provide offer a one-stop shop for food assistance, healthy recipes, and assistance with applications for grocery support through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or FNS). Clinicians and navigators also provide healthcare services, educational opportunities, and other resources to support health and well-being. Everyone involved works to create a warm and welcoming environment for all, including live music, food, and activities for kids. It’s a true community gathering where families can enjoy themselves while accessing critical services and resources.

<blockquote>“These events at the end of the day are about building bridges between our communities, making sure that we know our neighbors, making sure that there are folks working every day to make our communities better,” - Lariza Garzón, Director of North Carolina & Mid-South Operations at the Hispanic Federation</blockquote>

Studies consistently show that hunger’s reach is widening across the state, with even deeper challenges in communities that have faced barriers and exclusion for generations. Today, 1 in 4 Black and Latino households experience food insecurity – nearly twice the rate of White households. Alongside community partners like Hispanic Federation, we work hard to identify solutions that match the depth of these challenges, meeting people where they are and providing resources that empowers families to move beyond poverty.

Working together, organizations like the Food Bank and Hispanic Federation can bridge gaps and create sustainable solutions that ensure everyone can thrive – no matter where we live, where we’re from, or the color of our skin. We’re excited to expand these partnerships to even more communities throughout central and eastern North Carolina!