Pop-Up Markets

Our mobile operations bring fresh produce and pantry staples directly to communities where grocery resources are limited.

Southern states face higher rates of food insecurity than any other region in the United States. Here in North Carolina, one in every seven of us doesn’t have consistent and reliable access to sufficient food for our families. These challenges are even deeper in Black and Latine communities throughout the state, where hunger is two-to-three times more prevalent.

Addressing hunger in our most hard-hit communities — especially areas without access to full grocery stores or traditional food pantries — is the surest path to reach our vision of a future where no one goes hungry. Our Pop-Up Markets bring fresh, culturally familiar and versatile food directly to communities, helping make sure everyone has the resources needed to thrive.

Our Pop-Up Markets are open to everyone.

There are no residency, income, or ID requirements to participate — and neighbors are free to shop for whatever items they may need.

View the full schedule below. Printable versions are also available.

Print Central NC Locations Print Eastern NC Locations

Pop-Up Market Schedule: Central NC

  • 9/3 Halifax Drive-through

    Wednesday, September 3rd
    9am-11am
    *rescheduled due to Labor Day*

    Halifax County Center
    359 Ferrell Ln. Halifax, NC 27839

  • 9/4 Zebulon

    Thursday, September 4th
    9am-11am

    Hopkins Chapel Baptist Church
    4525 Hopkins Chapel Rd. Zebulon, NC 27597

  • 9/5 Warrenton

    Friday, September 5thĀ 
    9am-11am

    Mag's Marketplace
    Hosted with Pink with a Passion & Coley Springs
    Baptist Church
    307 E Macon St. Warrenton, NC 27589

  • 9/8 Mount Olive

    Monday, September 8thĀ 
    9am-11am

    First Baptist Church
    109 W John St. Mt. Olive, NC 28365

  • 9/9 Bennett

    Tuesday, September 9th
    9am-11am

    Bennett Baptist Church
    68 E Bonlee St. Bennett, NC 27208

  • 9/11 Timberlake

    Thursday, September 11thĀ 
    9am-11am

    Greater Cleggs Chapel Community Missionary Baptist Church (Community Center)
    2601 Surl Mount Tirzah Rd, Timberlake, NC 27583

  • 9/18 Sanford

    Thursday, September 18thĀ 
    9am-11am

    Central Carolina Community College
    (Center for Workforce Innovation)
    5190 Enterprise Park Dr. Sanford, NC 27330

  • 9/23 Raleigh

    Tuesday, September 23rd
    9am-11am

    Saint Augustine's University
    691 George Pup Williams Dr. Raleigh, NC 27610

Pop-Up Market Schedule: Eastern NC

  • 9/3 Atkinson

    Wednesday, September 3rdĀ 
    9am-11am

    St. Mary's United Holy Church
    8730 Point Caswell Rd, Atkinson, NC 28421

  • 9/5 Cerro Gordo

    Friday, September 5thĀ 
    9am-11am
    *rescheduled due to Labor Day*

    Cerro Gordo Baptist Church
    257 Church St, Cerro Gordo, NC 28430

  • 9/10 Pink Hill Drive-through

    Wednesday, September 10th
    9am-11am

    Sandy Plain OFWB Church
    945 NC Hwy 241, Pink Hill, NC 28572

  • 9/16 Wilmington

    Tuesday, September 16thĀ 
    9am-11am

    Cape Fear Christian Church
    811 N College Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405

  • 9/19 Bolivia

    Friday, September 19th
    10am-12pm

    St. John Missionary Baptist Church
    2586 Old Ocean Hwy, Bolivia, NC 28422

  • 9/20 Chadbourn

    Saturday, September 20thĀ 
    9am-11amĀ 

    Jerusalem Chapel Free Will Baptist Church
    6224 Chadbourn Hwy, Chadbourn, NC 28431

  • 9/23 Leland

    Tuesday, September 23rdĀ 
    9am-11am

    St. James AME Zion Church,
    27 Old Town Creek Rd NE, Leland, NC 28451

Frequently asked questions — and answers!

(or scroll down to find additional resources in your community)

Have questions beyond what you see here?Ā 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Pop-Market Team!

  • What is a Pop-Up Market?

    Pop-Up Markets are no cost food distributions directly facilitated by the Food Bank. Most are walk-up, client choice distributions, with volunteers stocking tables from pallets of food and assisting neighbors throughout.Ā Ā 

  • Are there any requirements to receive assistance?

    Come as you are! There are no income, ID, or residency requirements to receive assistance. We have a brief check-in process so that the Food Bank can track how many people are served. Phone numbers are collected at every distribution in the rare event of a product recall; you may also opt in to join our text message list to be notified in the event of a schedule change.Ā Ā 

  • What do I need to bring?

    We suggest bringing totes or boxes to make it easier to transport your groceries, but this is not required. Some boxes may be available from the pallets of food being distributed. We are not taking donations of grocery bags at this time. For walk-up distributions, we provide utility wagons that are used as shopping carts. For a drive-thru, volunteers load food directly into vehicles.Ā Ā 

  • What kind of food will be available?

    Everything distributed at Pop-Up Markets is provided by our generous donors – farmers, retailers, manufacturers and more. For this reason, the food we distribute varies based on availability; we cannot guarantee a specific product or quantity per household at any distribution. The most common foods we distribute include fresh produce, snacks, beverages, and retail bakery items. The Food Bank provides 8-10 pallets of food per distribution.Ā 

  • What happens if the weather is bad?

    Our Pop-Up Markets team keeps a close eye on the forecast and avoids cancelling or rescheduling distributions unless it is necessary. At some locations, we can change walk-up distributions to a drive-thru. If there is a safety risk for attendees and volunteers (thunderstorms, icy roads, etc.), we will cancel or reschedule distributions on a case-by-case basis. If you opt in for text messages when checking in for a distribution, you will be notified of any cancellations or schedule changes at that location via text. We also will post any changes here and on our social media accounts.Ā Ā 

  • Where are Pop-Up Markets located? I don't see any in my area.

    All of us at the Food Bank are committed to equity and equal opportunity throughout our service area. We combine food insecurity statistics with our own distribution data to identify communities that do not have sufficient access to grocery stores or traditional food assistance sites. Our Pop-Up Markets help fill these gaps while we work to grow local capacity.Ā 

    With a network of more than 700 pantries, no-cost markets, meal sites, and delivery programs throughout the region, most communities have access to nutritious food through one of our many local partner organizations. Use our FoodFinder App to find locations near you!

    Ā 

  • How can I support Pop-Up Markets? Do you need volunteers?

    Yes! We're always looking for help — and it's easy to sign up using our Volunteer Calendar. For individuals or families, you can find Pop-Up opportunities under our Raleigh and Wilmington locations. If you’d like to bring a larger group, please reach out to your local Pop-Up Markets Coordinator (contact information below) for additional information.

  • Can my organization host a Pop-Up Market?Ā 

    Our Pop-up Markets are designed to reach communities that do not have sufficient access to grocery stores or traditional food assistance sites. If your organization is in an underserved area and has the capacity to support, there are many ways to get involved locally. We'd be honored to help find the best path to deepen your impact.Ā 

    • If you are looking to get involved in shorter-term efforts locally, we hope you'll consider supporting a Food Bank partner agency near you. Our network includes 700+ pantries, no-cost markets, meal sites, and delivery programs throughout the region. Ā Enter your zip code on our FoodFinder App to find nearby locations.

    • If your organization is able to host and sustain a monthly Pop-Up Market, we'd love to hear from you. Ā Please read over the program requirements and related information before submitting.Ā 

    • If you'd like to volunteer regularly as a group, we offer a host of options at our facilities in Durham, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, Sandhills, and Wilmington. Check out the Volunteer Calendar to find dates and locations near you.

Additional Resources in Your Community

In addition to Pop-up Markets, the Food Bank network offers a host of pantries, meal sites, and other resources and to help families keep food on the table and get ahead. Learn more about options below.

Find no-cost food and services.

Our network of 700+ local food assistance sites is here for everyone — inclusive of all races, religions, gender expressions, and immigration statuses.

Get help paying for groceries.

SNAP (FNS) is a lifeline for more than 1.4 million kids, seniors, people with disabilities, and working adults across North Carolina. Our team is here to help you access financial support to pay for groceries.

Senior Programs

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides monthly boxes of pantry staples for low-income individuals age 60+. We add fresh produce, dairy, and protein to help meet the dietary needs of seniors in our community.

Children's Programs

Through school-based pantries, snacks at afterschool programs, take-home options, and breakfast and lunches at summer meal sites, our Child Nutrition team partners with local schools and community centers to provide support to families year-round.

Catch up on the latest mobile market news

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