Honoring Governor Jim Hunt’s Legacy

We are deeply saddened by the passing of former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt. 

His loss is felt across our state, and especially here at the Food Bank, where he was known for decades as both as an strong advocate and beloved friend. 

Governor Hunt was a longtime supporter of our mission and a true champion for communities facing hunger. Over many years, his leadership, guidance, and belief in our work helped shape the Food Bank’s growth to meet rising challenges — and strengthened our ability to serve neighbors across central and eastern North Carolina. He understood that ensuring access to food is foundational to opportunity, health, and dignity. And he never stopped advocating for policies, investments, and partnerships that reflected those values.

We will honor Governor Hunt’s legacy by continuing to do the work he cared so deeply about: showing up for our neighbors, building solutions together, and striving every day for a more just and nourished North Carolina.

– Amy Beros & the Food Bank Team, with gratitude and remembrance

Governor Hunt's love and support for the Food Bank spans decades — dating back to the our founding.

Just a few of the many milestones we achieved together thanks to the incredible leadership of Jim Hunt:

• 1983: Played a key role in opening the Food Bank's first full-scale facility on Sunrise Avenue in Raleigh
• 1999: Supported the expansion of Food Bank operations into eastern North Carolina with the opening of our Greenville Branch
• 2002: Chaired the Food Bank's "Breaking Bread Community Campaign," which raised more than $6.5 million to build key infrastructure in support of child nutrition programs, retail grocery partnerships, and transportation and distribution capacity
• 2010: Hunt-Morgridge Award established in honor of extraordinary leadership of Governor Hunt and Cisco Chairman Emeritus John Morgridge — now an annual recognition of exemplary leaders in hunger relief

The entire Food Bank community extends our heartfelt condolences to Governor Hunt’s family and loved ones. 

We hold his daughter, Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt, especially close in our thoughts. Rachel has been a meaningful supporter of our work in her own right, and we are grateful for her continued commitment to the people and communities we serve during this difficult time.