By combining food assistance with strengthened logistics, this project helps secure food supplies, improve access to nutritious food and support local agricultural value chains. It enables the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to respond sustainably to the needs of the communities it serves.
The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina fights food insecurity across 34 counties, covering more than one-third of the state. As a member of Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief network in the United States, it collects and distributes nearly 45,000 tonnes of food each year, equivalent to 83 million meals, through a network of 700 local partners.
In the face of a sharp rise in food insecurity, more than 600,000 people in the region are now experiencing food insecurity, representing an increase of over 150,000 people in just two years. This situation, unprecedented in nearly 20 years, has led to a significant rise in demand at partner organisations, whose activity has increased by between 20% and 60%, in some cases exceeding levels recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the same time, declining public funding is weakening the Food Bank’s ability to act, particularly in relation to the purchase of essential fresh products, including fruit, vegetables, dairy products and protein-rich foods, for which demand continues to grow.
The Food Bank is also facing major logistical challenges. Its fleet of around 20 refrigerated trailers and lorries, which is essential for collecting and distributing food, must be progressively renewed to ensure reliable deliveries, safeguard staff safety and meet environmental standards.
The supported project aims to strengthen this capacity for action over the long term through three key priorities:
- Maintain the annual distribution of 45,000 tonnes of food, in line with the organisation’s 2030 strategic plan.
- Renew and modernise the logistics fleet through the acquisition of four refrigerated trailers.
- Strengthen the partner network by expanding food recovery from retailers, businesses and local producers, while improving the consistency of deliveries to community organisations.
By combining food assistance with strengthened logistics, the project helps secure food supplies, improve access to nutritious food and support local agricultural value chains. It equips the organisation to respond sustainably to the needs of the communities it serves.
