A new refrigerated van boosts The Journey Ministry Pantry’s efforts with local grocery retailers, in partnership with the Food Bank and Walmart Foundation

Families throughout Franklin County will soon have new options to access fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy products thanks to the efforts of The Journey Ministry Pantry — an outstanding partner in the Food Bank network.

Led by Ms. Helen Long and dedicated volunteers Floyd and Phyllis Vick, the pantry launched in 2022 with a vision for a future where no one goes hungry — offering encouragement, hope, and nutritious food to families in Franklin County and beyond. The pantry has grown to serve more than 1,200 community members each month.

New Accessible Location

In response to rising food insecurity, The Journey recently moved into a new location at 426 S. Cross Street in Youngsville. The expanded facility offers significant additional capacity to process donations and distribute a variety of foods to local community members — including fresh produce and bread, dry goods, pantry staples, and more. And the new site makes it even easier for neighbors to drive up each Tuesday, grab their selections, and head home.

Expanded Fresh Food Options

With support from the Walmart Foundation, the Food Bank was able to secure a Retail Agency Capacity Grant — funds dedicated to expanding pantries’ ability to bring in fresh and frozen foods from local grocers. This funding helped us purchase a new refrigerated van for The Journey, and they’re now able to pick up weekly donations from the Walmart Supercenter in Louisburg, alongside regular support from local Food Lion and Wegmans locations.

Cumulative Impact

The new refrigerated van and expanded facilities are having a positive impact even beyond The Journey Ministry Pantry’s weekly distributions. With this new local infrastructure in place, we’ve been able to reallocate trucks from the Food Bank’s central operation in Raleigh to deliver directly to area pantries, no-cost markets and meal sites. Combined, we expect this will free up capacity for at least 40 truckloads delivered each month to our partners — the equivalent of 300,000 additional meals reaching local communities.

With the Walmart Foundation’s support, our retail grants are helping partners like The Journey greatly expand access to fresh and frozen food in local communities. And the impact extends well beyond a single vehicle or delivery route — it’s a boost throughout the region.

– Caitlin Cohn, Food Bank Director of Network Strategy