Smoke in the Pitt: Our Annual Tasting Event to Combat Rising Hunger in the Greenville Area

Community members will gather on October 23 to make a difference at ”Smoke in the Pitt” — the region’s signature event supporting efforts to end hunger and its root causes. 

Presented by longtime Food Bank partner Food Lion, the event will feature regional dishes, a silent auction, and  other exciting activities to support over 65,000 neighbors who are food insecure in Edgecombe, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt, and Wilson Counties. Just one $50 ticket can provide 250 meals for local families facing hunger! 

Hosted at ECU in Harvey Hall at the Murphy Center, this year’s “Smoke in the Pitt” takes place as the government shutdown and deep cuts to federal programs are worsening food insecurity locally — a crisis that was already at a 20-year high in the Greenville region.  All proceeds remain in the Greenville area, supporting hunger relief efforts across the Food Bank’s local network of 150+ no-cost markets, food pantries, meal sites, and delivery programs. 

Over the past year, the Food Bank at Greenville provided more than 12 million meals for local families, as food insecurity soars in the region, where one in five people struggle to consistently put food on the table. The  government shutdown is creating even more uncertainty for thousands of families in the Greenville area who depend on federal services, benefits, and paychecks. "Smoke in the Pitt" is a community-driven event that seeks to generate ongoing support for impacted neighbors and move closer to a future where no one goes hungry.  

Whykeshia White, the Food Bank's Development Officer for the Eastern Region, has seen the community come together time and again to nourish local families. Volunteers meet daily at the Food Bank to sort fresh produce and assemble food boxes for neighbors facing hunger — products that are increasingly purchased with community donations as federal support wanes.

We have an incredible group of supporters and advocates in the Greenville area who work hard to make sure every family has the resources needed to thrive. ‘Smoke in the Pitt’ is an exciting opportunity to bring our community together and move even closer to a future where no one goes hungry.

– Whykeshia White, Food Bank Development Officer, Eastern Region

In addition to Food Lion, “Smoke in the Pitt” is supported by Community Leader Sponsors Aramark, Frito Lay, and ECU Health, as well as a host of incredible community supporters. The event generates a strong foundation of community support for the Food Bank at Greenville each year across volunteerism, financial donations, and advocacy for hunger relief policies.  

We’re proud to be a long-term partner of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina — and to support our shared mission of feeding our neighbors who are experiencing hunger. Nourishing our neighbors is core to everything we do at Food Lion. We believe no one should have to choose between dinner and rent or gas and groceries. And in a time when so many families face food insecurity, we are grateful to join forces with the Food Bank to provide fresh, nutritious food to our community.” 

– Turner Thompson, Greenville Region Director of Operations, Food Lion