PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: Hands For Humanity Serves Kinston Families With Support From Food Lion FEEDS

In 1999, Hands For Humanity began its partnership with the Food Bank to help serve the rising number of families facing food insecurity in Lenoir County. 

As a lifelong resident of Kinston, Mrs. Hilda had long observed the dramatic increase in neighbors needing food assistance. In Lenoir County, 1 in 5 people are food insecure — and for Black and Latine communities, 1 in 3 face hunger. That's more than double the rate of their White counterparts. Racial disparities are often influenced by factors like unemployment and poverty rates, as well as historical policies and practices that created barriers for generations. 

Either you buy your medicine, or buy gas, or buy food...We're having an increase of 32 to 35 people a day. That just started a couple of weeks ago. And the food stamps have been changed. So people are hungry. 

– Hilda Royal Hands For Humanity Food Pantry Director

With the help of Food Lion FEEDS, Hands For Humanity provides nutritious meals for families struggling to put food on the table. Mrs. Hilda and her team pick up produce and bakery donations from Food Lion 6 days a week, all year round. Food Lion store managers are often amazed by the number of families that were served through their retail donations. 

We pick up from Food Lion six days a week. They help us a whole lot in order to give the people what they need. And also, it helps us make our food boxes more available because they are supplying the produce and the vegetables, and the sweets.   

– Hilda Royal Hands For Humanity Food Pantry Director

Hands For Humanity's success is a reflection of what we can accomplish when local communities join with partners like Food Lion Feeds for a common cause.