If you are able to, below are resources and organizations in need of donations and support.
- The Town of Chapel Hill needs volunteers to help with weekly food bank distributions. If you’re able to volunteer a few hours, sign up online.
- Edible Campus maintains garden spaces located throughout the UNC campus dedicated to growing organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, and pollinator friendly plants. We currently have eight satellite garden sites where students, faculty, and staff can forage on the seasonal food and herbs growing in the beds. We also maintain a 1/4 acre production and educational garden behind Davis library. The food in this garden is not free to forage on. Instead, it gets donated to local partner organizations like Carolina Cupboard that distribute it to those in need. We hold weekly workdays where volunteers are encouraged to come out join us. Information can be found on our website here.
- Donate to Firsthand Foods, a food hub that sells and distributes pasture raised meats from North Carolina farmers. Firsthand Foods established the Firsthand Foods Community Fund, an initiative working to alleviate hunger during the COVID-19 crisis while also supporting North Carolina farmers. Firsthand Foods cares about local restaurants, many of which have been forced to lay off workers, increasing the number of people who may be struggling to feed their families. The fund aims to raise $8,000 in 60 days to donate meat to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Every dollar counts, and no donation is too small. Support the fund here.
- Donate to Feed the Fight Chapel Hill NC, a community fundraiser providing fresh meals from local restaurants to UNC healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 on the front lines. 100% of donations go directly to local Chapel Hill restaurants to support their staff and keep them afloat during the pandemic. 20% gratuity will be included on every order. You can also volunteer to deliver meals or write notes for our healthcare heroes!
- Purchase box meals, quality meats, and fresh meals locally through Carrboro United. Carrboro United offers hub days on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This program helps to support the local food service economy in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. For more information on how to purchase and pick up meals, visit this website.
- Donate to the Carolina Student Impact Fund, a resource which provides assistance to UNC students experiencing unexpected hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Provide support to TABLE Inc, a food bank in Carrboro, NC which provides food for local children. You can order food through their Amazon Wishlist, review their Most Needed Items List and mail food directly to 209 E. Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510, or leave most needed items at the dropbox behind the building or at WCHL at University Place. For more information, visit TABLE’s website.
- The Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is currently taking donations to provide meals to North Carolina residents in need. Just a $10 donation can provide 50 meals. Click here to donate. Click here if you are a healthy adult and would like to sign up as a volunteer.
- Meals on Wheels of Durham is currently accepting volunteer applications to help with calling clients and delivering food.
- Meals on Wheels of Chapel Hill is continuing operations and requires extra funding to provide shelf-stable food boxes. Donate to the food delivery service program.
- The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle of Raleigh is putting together emergency food boxes and needs an additional 6,000 canned fruits and vegetables each week. Click here to find a list of most needed items and several drop-off locations in Raleigh and Durham.
- Donate food or assist as a volunteer with Carolina Cupboard, a community food pantry for UNC students experiencing food insecurity.
- The Public School Foundation is fundraising to provide meals for schoolchildren in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. When donating, make sure to write “Food for Students” in the comments section, to ensure that your donation goes directly to this program.
- If you are located in the northeastern part of the state, volunteer with Food Bank of the Albemarle. During COVID-19, volunteers are still being accepted, but registration is required. Additional volunteer time slots are available during this time.
- The Carolina Campus Community Garden is NOT currently accepting volunteers due to COVID-19. However, all garden harvest is being donated to UNC medical workers at this time.
- Nourish NC is committed to providing meals for schoolchildren who face food insecurity in North Carolina. There are numerous ways to help on their website, including various volunteer options as well as donating to the organization.
- Click here to find the five ways you can help the IFC Community Kitchen of Carrboro by donating needed items, sending a donation, or volunteering as you are able.
- Contribute to PORCH Chapel Hill by making a donation, supplying food, and supporting community partners. You can also serve as a volunteer.
- Contribute to PORCH Hillsborough’s monthly food drives with a non-perishable foods or a cash donation. PORCH Hillsborough is also currently accepting volunteers, so click here to get involved.
- The RENA Community Center of Chapel Hill supports a food pantry and community garden for families from all around Orange County. Tax-deductible donations and volunteer applications are being accepted.
- Donate to Hare Krishna: Food for Life, providing free vegetarian meals to the community.
- Support the Carrboro Community Garden Coalition, a network of gardens self-funded by members and supporting local gardening!
- Check out this page here to see how you can help the Durham County COVID-19 Food Security Project.
- Donate to Dorcas Ministries, which provides financial assistance, food assistance, and career coaching.
- Donate to The Storehouse, a food pantry in Hendersonville.
- The UNC Food For All website has a list of volunteer opportunities.
- Donate or volunteer at the Mountain Area Nutritional Needs Alliance (MANNA), a network of more than 200 partner agencies, volunteers, staff, board, and others working together in a shared mission of involving, educating, and uniting people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina.