Did you know: Every county in North Carolina has a food bank that works in the community to nourish people and connect them with resources!
Our Food Bank covers 34 counties in the state, from Raleigh to the coast. We’ve been operating for more than 40 years providing food and programs for our neighbors, and are working to be intentional in reaching and supporting folks in the LGBTQ+ community. We affirm our support for the community, listen and build trust, and identify gaps in service to make sure we are a resource for everyone in need of nourishment.
We work through a network of more than 800 partner agencies. That’s what we call the pantries, soup kitchens, and other food distribution partners, and that’s how we get food to people on a regular basis. You can find a partner agency nearest to you by visiting our online Food Finder, available in both English and Spanish. (We do recommend calling the agency before you visit to ensure the hours and days of operations are still correct.) Our partner agencies are doing everything they can to keep our neighbors safe and healthy while distributing food. They are all encouraged to wear masks, and many offer drive-thru distributions of food in order to avoid large group settings. In addition to distributing food, some of our partner agencies operate federal nutrition programs such as TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) and programs for kids when they are out of school.
Our Community Health & Engagement department also has a team that focuses on Outreach and Support Services. They work to connect people with another federal nutrition program you may have heard about: SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). You maybe have heard this program called by other names before, such as FNS, EBT, or food stamps. Our team of trained experts walk folks through the qualification and application process every day. Once in the program, SNAP provides funds on a monthly basis to go toward food purchasing at local grocery stores, and increasingly at online retailers too. To be connected with one of our team members to learn more about SNAP eligibility, you can visit our website: foodbankcenc.org/benefits or call 1-800-358-8189. Our contact form is available in English and Spanish, and we have Spanish-speaking team members to help assist with the process.
Across all our facilities, the Food Bank has been working to ensure that we are operating with intentionality to be affirming and inclusive, and lead with our values, which include respect, compassion, and integrity. We share our pronouns in introductions and emails. We are in the process of changing all our restroom signage to be gender neutral and to provide hygiene products in all of them. In addition, our Culture Impact Committee includes a Gender Inclusivity subcommittee, ensuring inclusivity for the LGBTQIA+ community continues to be an area we are invested in.
If you’re looking to join with folks to donate time and offer support the Food Bank is a great place to volunteer. We offer regular, safe, volunteer opportunities throughout the week. You can check out foodbankcenc.org/volunteer to find sessions and book your volunteer time online. We’d love to have you!
Above all, at the Food Bank we believe in the power of food to nourish, and to provide stability and hope. Food connects communities, and the LGBTQ+ community is our community.
