RALEIGH, N.C. — Every day in North Carolina food banks fill the gap for people and families fighting food insecurity.
What You Need to Know
The state budget allocates $40 million to food banks
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina has seen a consistent increase in need of about 35%
One volunteer says this budget item shows the state's priorities
For nearly two years, they’ve seen more need than normal.
Jessica Whichard of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina says when the pandemic first hit, they saw an immediate spike of around 45%.
“I would say that we are seeing a sustained increase in our partner agencies, the pantries and the soup kitchens, of about 35%. So that need is really still there, and we’re doing our best to meet it,” Whichard said.
In this year’s state budget, the legislature allocated $40 million to food banks across the state.
Whichard says the insecurity has always been there, but the pandemic really shined a light on how many people were on the edge.
“I think so many people are often one crisis away, one big expense away that they weren’t planning on from needing the hunger relief system,” Whichard said.
In the beginning, Whichard said the federal programs really bolstered food banks’ abilities to help, and this additional funding will help the programs continue to cover the increased need.
Sandra Nussenfeld and her husband Mark moved to North Carolina about a year and a half ago, and volunteer at the Food Bank.
They began by delivering meals to seniors, and now help sort and pack food once a week.
Nussenfeld says seeing this support from the state shows where the priorities are.
“Knowing that they’re making that commitment when it truly is what we should all do for each other, I think it’s great,” Nussenfeld said. “It really does give us a much better appreciation of North Carolina.”