North Carolina Food Banks Receive $500,000 SECU Foundation Investment to Combat Growing Hunger Crisis

In response to increased demands on food banks and growing food insecurity across North Carolina, the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation made a grant of $500,000 to Feeding the Carolinas – the state’s association of hunger relief organizations. These funds will be put to work in every corner of the state by seven major food banks – providing more than 2 million nourishing meals to people facing hunger during the holidays.

With the increasing demand for food assistance across the state, we are pleased to offer support to ensure continued access to resources for North Carolinians. SECU is rooted in North Carolina communities, and we express our deepest appreciation to SECU members who support this work.

– Mona Moon, Chair of the SECU Foundation Board of Directors

More than 1.6 million people face food insecurity across North Carolina – the highest in a generation. That means 1 in 7 of our neighbors don’t know where their next meal might come from. And with cuts to federal agriculture and nutrition programs, hunger relief organizations have increasingly relied on support from community pillars like SECU to ensure seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities have access to healthy, familiar food. 

It is an honor to accept this grant on behalf of Feeding the Carolinas, and its member food banks across the state. Thank you on behalf of the 1.6 million North Carolinians who are counting on us each and every day to be able to nourish themselves and their families so that they can thrive. 

– Amy Beros, President & CEO of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

Seven regional food banks serve North Carolina communities, each of which partner with hundreds of local food pantries, churches, schools, and community centers to reach people facing hunger in all 100 counties. Together, Food Bank of the Albemarle, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast NC, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, and MANNA Food Bank provide enough food to fuel 250+ million meals each year. The SECU grant will be distributed among these organizations to ensure that it reaches every part of the state. 

This moment brings me back to growing up in rural North Carolina with two parents who worked very hard to put food on the table. This grant goes a long way to provide hope to people like my parents in rural North Carolina, that one day their son or daughter can grow up to become anything that they can be. So we thank you for providing not only assistance, but hope. Because hope really matters.

– David Griffin, Food Bank Director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina