Members of Congress Get Hands-on Experience with Hunger Relief Efforts

Over the past year, we've seen powerful reminders of what it means when advocacy moves from conversation to action. Before the holiday season, 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 more recently, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC02) and her team spent the morning at our Pop-Up Market at Saint Augustine'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.

Congressman Murphy packs locally-grown produce in Greenville

Before the winter holidays, Congressman Greg Murphy (R-NC3) 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. The effort readied more than 40,000 pounds of fresh produce, destined for families facing food insecurity across eastern North Carolina. 

Congressman Murphy used the visit not only to help with sorting and packing, but to learn about the strain on our hunger relief network following the longest government shutdown in history. He heard first-hand accounts of the impact of disrupted SNAP benefits and federal funding losses for fresh food purchases — two programs he has supported as key vehicles to connect families with healthy, locally-grown food.

Congresswoman Ross supports food distributions in Raleigh

During her visit to the Catholic Parish Outreach Food Pantry in Raleigh, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC2) worked with volunteers at one of the busiest weekly food distributions in the area. She heard the team's first-hand accounts of the deepening strain on local food assistance efforts caused by recent federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The cuts have contributed to a 60% jump in families seeking help at the pantry.

And more recently, the Congresswoman and her team spent the morning volunteering at our Pop-Up Market at Saint Augustine's University, helping distribute food and hearing directly from neighbors about the challenges so many of us are facing. The Raleigh Pop-up has grown to support more than 1,000 people each month, with record numbers receiving fresh produce and pantry staples at the mobile distribution.

These hands-on experiences show that our advocacy and engagement matter. 

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. These visits offer a grounded perspective on how federal nutrition policy translates to growing community needs and reinforce the urgency so many hunger relief leaders are feeling.

Thank you to everyone who has worked to make these moments possible. Experiences like these strengthen our mission, amplify our shared voice as a community, and bring us one step closer to a future where no one goes hungry.