BOONE, N.C. — Catherine Steele started Musicians Mission of Mercy in 2015, but over the last few months it's grown fast.

What You Need To Know

  • Musicians Mission of Mercy founder Catherine Steele said the need for food is increasing in the High Country

  • She said the last few months the number of food boxes they need has gone up by 200

  • Steele said they also deliver food

"It went from 400 boxes to almost 600 boxes in the last few months, and we add bags to that too," Steele said.

She was a single mom who struggled. Her children always ate, but sometimes she didn't.

"It would definitely have changed my life to have this," Steele said.

According to Feeding American 1 in 7 people in North Carolina are facing hunger. It also estimates that more than 1.4 million people in North Carolina are food insecure.

"So often people will wait three days before they call the emergency line of Ashe County, which is our compassionate commissary number and that just breaks my heart because they didn't have to wait that long," Steele said.

Volunteers pack boxes, which are then placed at 37 locations for anyone who needs it, no questions asked. They also bring food to those who have no transportation or are too sick to travel.

She brings food to James Wood, an Air Force veteran battling cancer.

"I had too many DWIs. I had to go to prison for a year," Wood said.

Inside those walls he started painting. He has done paintings for a children's book and now sells these paintings to make money to survive. Steele brings him food to help.

He said asking for help is not something he knew how to do, but he's thankful that there are angels like Steele who will go out of their way to make sure he can eat.

"Pride up here is different. There is just so much poverty that people know they can get help, and they are not afraid to get it," Wood said.