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Faces of the Food Bank Who are the Faces of the Food Bank? They might be a person you see on the street, in a car or on the bus. They might be a family member, your neighbor, co-worker or friend. You might sit by their side at church or stand behind them in a store. The Faces of the Food Bank are those who have been touched by the issues of hunger or those who are suffering from hunger itself. They are the hard-working folks at the soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, after-school programs and senior centers of whom we serve. They are the individuals, families and seniors that receive meals and groceries from the Food Bank. They are the staff, supporters, board members and volunteers of the Food Bank. In the 34-county service territory of the Food Bank, over 480,000 individuals are at risk for hunger. Nearly 30% are children and 18% are elderly. Another 38% are the "working poor" with one or more working adult in the household who are simply unable to make ends meet. Here are the stories of the Faces of the Food Bank. Click here to submit your story Tell a friend about Faces of the Food Bank FEATURED VIDEO: Reaching out to those who suffer
Supporters in unlikely places
Life on the road of a Food Bank driver
Volunteers make all the difference
There are no great things, only small things with great love. 
“Since I work with Special Education students, I have the opportunity to do a bit more advocacy and get to know the families a little more in depth,” said Anderson. “As a result, I see first hand that there are areas lacking in the home and food, particularly nutritious food, is a definite need.” Anderson notices that her students tend to be sleepy and sickly, signs she sees as lacking proper nutrition. “When we have breakfast and lunch served at school, they don’t mess around. They are truly hungry,” says Anderson. “The sad part is that I know they are probably not getting much of any type of real meal since school has ended.” Anderson is glad that the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina has initiated a summer food drive called Kids Summer Stock to remind the community of the children on the free and reduced meal program. “A lot of people don’t work with children every day so they don’t think about them eating…or not eating. I applaud the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina for encouraging the community to continue to give throughout the summer while keeping the nutritional needs of these children in mind.”
But, needless to say, you were our sunlight on a cloudy day. Because of you and your group I was able to at least continue the role of father and have the food needed to feed the kids. With the economy the way it is and the job market not looking very good, it takes one of the stresses away from my worries to know at least their are kind people out there that are able to help. My kids say thank you, with bellies full and smiles on their faces. Rest easy knowing at least one family was able to have the opportunity to at least say "thank you" for the thousands of other voices, silent because of lack of ability to do so. Your cause was, is, and will always be needed in a community and it gives the true meaning of the word community into the light.. Long winded I know but all the same, THANK YOU ALL... Sincerely, Dear Food Bank,
A few weeks ago a friend of ours told us that the Food Bank truck was coming and asked us to call anyone we know who needed food. I called 8 people in our town. We got there and the food was good and fresh. I handed out cucumbers, potatoes and white and sweet corn. I watched one man reach for an eggplant. I saw him hold it up in front of him. He looked at it with the biggest smile, relief spread across his face. A fresh, juicy watermelon on a hot day wouldn’t have meant more to that poor man then the eggplant in his hand. Thank you for all you do. I wish I could do more to help.
His statement to me is so familiar and one that I, unfortunately, hear so often. He says, “I’ve never had to ask for help before and I don’t know how to go about this...” He pauses. I say “Do you need some food?” He says, yes. He says he has had some medical problems and struggles to make ends meet. He manages to pay his bills but there is no money left for food. He mentioned he was a Viet Nam Veteran. As he told his story I kept thinking this shouldn’t be happening in the United States of America, a land of opportunity and abundance! I continue to listen to the story that only gets worse. He talked for quite some time and I think it gives him some relief just to be able to talk to someone. I give him directions to a couple of places close by that can give him a hot meal right away and a list of our agencies that can help him even more. My eyes swell up with tears I wish him well and say “God Bless you, Sir.” It's just another day at the Food Bank and I am grateful that the organization I work for does so much for so many in need.
Since Tommy receives several of these calls a day, he thought nothing of it until he read the letter from the mother. She wrote to thank him for his recommendations. Because of the help the agencies provided, she was able to make the payments that saved their home. She is just one of our clients who are in a situation where they have to choose between food for the family or paying rent. The program was able to provide enough groceries to prevent them from making the choice between going without food or becoming homeless.
After a while, they realized that this random approach was not providing a system of ongoing support. Through the Food Bank, they learned about the Backpack Program that provides kids with a discreet backpack filled with nutritional, shelf-stable food on a weekly basis to sustain them during the weekends when they do not have access to free or reduced school meals. The Backpack Program was implemented at the school in January of 2008. Amanda Hobbs, Principal of Cape Fear Elementary, has this to say about their program: "The backpack program offers these families something they can count on each weekend. In one situation, we had a mother who said that she was not able to transport her child to her mental health appointments and still have enough gas to get her back to school. When we offered the backpack program to her family, she was able to use the money she saved on food to purchase additional gas. This has allowed the student to make all of her therapy appointments and still attend school regularly. In this case, the backpack program is helping us reach the long-term goal of a healthy young lady who is capable of supporting herself and ending the cycle of poverty in her family. I would recommend this program to any school in the area." The children in need are identified by school social workers, counselors and teachers based on free and reduced lunch, behavior patterns and other direct observations. More than just homework, these teachers provide nutrition, stability and compassion.
One of the clients, who was homeless himself and a resident at the Mission, walked up to our Operations Manager, Pete Sloane. He stated that he wanted to donate some money to help others who might need it more than him. He reached in his pocket, pulled out a well-worn $5 bill and several crumpled up singles. He straightened out the bills as best he could and proudly handed them over. His total donation was $10.00.
The money order was printed: Pay to the order of: Food Bank
A driver for the Durham Branch was picking up food from a donor in the Durham area. A woman hailed him to a stop. He rolled down the window of the truck and she announced that she wanted to help. She pushed through a check for $20 and said “It’s all I can afford I hope it will help.” A driver in the Raleigh area garnered a donation through casual conversation: “I was talking to another tractor trailer driver about what I do. The next week he shows up with a whole truckload of fresh tomatoes, lettuce, pepper, and celery. The grocer he was delivering to rejected the produce because it would stay fresh for only 4 more days and they needed food on their shelf that would last for a week. They told him to dump it ... but instead, he rescued it for us. And only 4 more days of freshness isn’t a problem for the Food Bank - we’ll get that food to families who need it within 24 hours!”
The woman, a long-time supporter of the Food Bank and keenly aware of the plight of struggling families in her area, took this idea to the next level. She began saving her own family’s unused coupons to purchase “free” food that she donates to the Food Bank. It’s an easy way for her to support the Food Bank without putting a dent in her pocketbook!
Then I noticed a little girl near the crowd, jumping up and down, real excited about something. She had pigtails and, even though her clothes were faded, she was dressed real nice like she was going to church. I went over and asked her what she was so excited about: “Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes!” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “Sweet potatoes?” I chuckled, “What’s so exciting about sweet potatoes?” She looked at me with big eyes and said in a hushed voice, “Because tonight, mama is making sweet potato pie!” At that moment I got tunnel vision, like in the movies, and all I could see was this little girl: not excited about toys or television, but about the anticipation of having sweet potato pie at dinner. My head started to reel. When I lifted my eyes, I looked at the crowd of people waiting for the food we were delivering I really looked at them: mothers with worn faces, dads with tired eyes, seniors looking expectantly at the front of the line where the boxes were handed out and kids squealing with joy at their contents. I was stunned and immediately felt guilty for being so selfish. That moment changed my whole perception about what we do here at the Food Bank. I have a new appreciation for my job and our work. I’ve been a driver with the Food Bank since 2003 and I’m thankful every day that I can do a little bit to help others.
“I ask some agencies ‘How long will this food I’m delivering last you’ ... and they say ‘It’ll be gone within the hour’. I’ll make a delivery at 1 pm and they’ll tell me the food will all be taken before dinner. ” “They don’t want to turn anybody away but they have to when they run out. Some people get there too late, and there’s nothing you can do. If we had more food to bring them, that’d be the answer.” “I just delivered up to Warrenton and I could hardly get out of the parking lot. The people knew when my truck was coming. They were lined up all the way up the entrance driveway and down the exit lane. Lots of kids ... lots of seniors ... it blew me away!” "We're making more deliveries of more food", said a driver today, "but folks are so thankful, it keeps you going, even when you're tired." “I delivered up to Knightdale the other day and there were hundreds of people waiting in line for my truck. The food probably doesn’t stay on the ground for more than an hour.” “The places we deliver to tell us that there’s never enough - there’s always a need for more. Even here in the warehouse where 40 or more agencies come by to pick up food daily, we have empty spaces on our shopping line. We try to spread the food out as much as possible, but it disappears faster than we can fill it. And they always ask ‘What’s the limit today’ because they know we have to make sure every agency that comes by is served.”
"The agency we delivered to was a small church, nothing around it for miles. They take the food that we give them and sort it into boxes, in equal amounts, to give to the individuals in need. The parking lot was packed. There were probably about 100 people there but very few cars. I found out later that most of the people walk or get rides from neighbors as early as 7 or 7:30 am... even though our truck doesn't arrive until the afternoon. For many, this is the only supply of food they will get for an entire week. They will wait in the parking lot for hours despite the weather conditions, freezing rain or blazing heat. This particular day was just before Thanksgiving and the volunteers at the church were so happy to see that we had pumpkins to give them in addition to the regular bread, meat, juice and produce we normally deliver. It pleased them to know that the families would be able to make pumpkin pies for the holidays. It didn't take long for them to sort the food and once they were ready, the line was formed. As they handed out the boxes, there was a very somber, organized, respectful air about them - the individuals and volunteers alike. I found myself staying equally as quiet and respectful. It didn't matter if they provided the food to a family of six or one senior citizen, the same amount of food was given to all. It was really a very humbling experience and made me realize how important our work is to so many people in our communities."
He is in constant motion assisting food pantries and soup kitchens with unloading to shifting product around the warehouse to waiting on agencies. It is all done with a constant twinkle in his eyes and a ready smile. Jim’s story is one of a growing number of people across the country - he is a casualty of the decline in the auto industry and has been laid off. “You can’t search for a job all the time,” said Hazen. So, while searching for jobs, he also sought opportunities to turn a negative into a positive. He looked for volunteer opportunities. “Volunteering is something I strongly recommend,” says Hazen. “The hours are flexible. You actually have an opportunity to network with people. But most importantly, you’re doing some good.” With that twinkle and smile, he adds “It’s a win-win for everyone.” Volunteer Wins "Every Serving Counts Contest"
Susan Upchurch Ramsey, a volunteer and former staff member, submitted her story: "I volunteer and have worked for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. I am continually amazed and grateful for the work of this food bank. My most moving experience came from observing their Mobile Food Pantry. This is a HUGE truck that delivers food to rural areas of NC. Helping feed those who are rebuilding from past hurricanes, helping feed those whose jobs have relocated, helping feed those who need a hand up not a hand out. I saw people who cried when given food for their families. I saw neighbors helping neighbors by sharing coolers to get food home. I saw how important this program was to the rural areas of NC. But Hunger is not just in the rural areas - it's everywhere. The Food Bank offers so many programs to try and meet the ever growing need. The Kids Cafe program feeds so many children afterschool and at times when their is no school. A lot of people do not consider that kids who count on free lunch from their school don't have a lunch when there is no school. I hope you will consider giving the $500 to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. I know the money will go to feed so many! Thanks for giving back to local food banks, V8 - YOU MAKE EVERY SERVING COUNT." We were thrilled to discover that Susan's submission won the V8 "Make Every Serving Count" contest. Thanks, Susan, for helping the word about the Food Bank and its mission! The $500.00 award will help provide over 2,000 meals to those suffering from hunger in our service territory! Gleaning & Golfing - You can do both!
Sweet had a long and successful career working in the claims division of a property casualty insurance company. His job took him around the country. After 30 years, Sweet retired to the Sandhills area. “I would visit a coffee shop close to where I live to get my daily coffee fix and noticed a gentleman would arrive to pick up the left over bread,” said Sweet. This casual observation led to conversations which in turn landed him as a near permanent fixture at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC at Sandhills. With the distribution of fresh produce being critical to the nutritional needs of those at risk of hunger in the Sandhills area, Sweet began assisting with gleaning on local farms. Food bank staff and volunteers visit local farms two or three times a week during the summer to collect fruit and vegetables that need to be removed from fields so that farmers can plow and prepare for the next crop. Traveling to local farms in Lee, Moore, Richmond and surrounding counties, volunteers glean produce like watermelon, collard greens, and corn. The fresh food is taken back to the branch where it is prepared for distribution to the Food Bank agencies in the area. Sweet says, “Gleaning is simply another Food Bank experience. Help is needed. It is one more job that I can do to help.” Austin E. Sweet lives with his wife in Pinehurst and is an avid golfer. He's been volunteering at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC at Sandhills twice a week for more than 10 years. |
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When first grade teacher Sheawanna Anderson plays the “food pyramid game” with her students at an elementary school in Farmville, NC, she already knows that some of her students will not have answers, let alone correct answers. All of the students in her class are on the free lunch program. And with meals at home that often consist of Ramen noodles, they have no idea where to place that “food” on the food pyramid.
I am a father of 3 and we had recently moved down to this area before realizing that bad times were about to hit. We were in a new area with no friends and were not yet familiar with the local area. We went through the steps to get the aid needed which we all know takes time. We searched for food pantries and came up into the problem of which days of the week or month they have the services to help. My one comment is, sadly, bad times fall on any time or day, which just complicates the stress and depression that families fall on.
My name is Clara and I have lived in Onslow County since 1961. We came here with the US Marine Corps. My husband has 26 1/2 years and 15 years in Civil Service. He has had 4 heart attacks in the past 10 years and is almost 100 percent disabled but we still manage to take care of our 6 grandchildren.
I’m sitting at my desk on a Friday morning just before lunch. It’s cloudy and overcast and the weatherman is calling for a storm. I hear the front door bell chime and in walks a big burly man with a beard. He kind of looks like Paul Bunyan with his white beard, sturdy and capable, but I notice that his coat is worn and ragged.
One day, Tommy Taylor, former Outreach Coordinator for the Wilmingon Branch of the Food Bank, received a letter from an underemployed mother of two. It referenced a call she had made just a few short months before asking about how the Food Bank works. She was looking for some help for herself and two children. Tommy gave her the name of an after-school program for the children, a food pantry that could give her staples once a month and another that could provide fresh vegetables, bread and meat on a weekly basis.
The educators at the Cape Fear Elementary in Pender County identified a growing need within their school - the need to provide their students with food. Each time they learned that a student did not have enough food at home, they pooled their own personal resources collecting food items to provide to the struggling families.
During the Heart of Carolina Food Drive (one of the largest food drives to benefit the Food Bank) a group of staff and clients from the Durham Rescue Mission were helping collect food from donors as they drove up to the Food Bank warehouse in Durham for drop-offs.
In December, a person dressed as Santa Claus walked into the warehouse at Food Bank in Durham and handed a staff member a money order for $500.00. He didn’t want a receipt... He just said it was from Santa.
Brandon, a Greenville Branch truck driver, was making a routine pickup at the Food Lion (the largest local food donor for the Food Bank.) A woman saw the Food Bank truck in the parking lot of the store and offered to donate left over bread from her bakery. Her bakery is now a consistent donor to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC at Greenville.
On a bright sunny day a few months ago, a woman stopped in at the Sandhills Branch of the Food Bank to drop off a food donation. She shared an interesting story of how one of her friends searches through trash to find unused grocery coupons. Once she finds enough coupons, she distributes them to others to purchase food.
I don’t usually make the agency deliveries. I run the long hauls between branches or make pickups from vendors. But one Saturday we were short on drivers and they called me in. It was hot, unloading took awhile and I was impatient. I just wanted to get back on the road.
Forty-five percent of Food Bank product is delivered by our fleet of 22 trucks to agencies such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens, senior centers, food pantries and day care centers. Our drivers experience the overwhelming need first-hand:
As part of the new staff member training program, Lee Cheney, the Volunteer Coordinator at the Raleigh branch of the Food bank, accompanied driver Tony Evans on a delivery route to rural Halifax County. Tony makes weekly deliveries of food to agencies in this area. Lee recounts her experience: 
Jim Hazen, a business analyst who moved to the Triangle almost two years ago, made quite an impression on the Food Bank staff. Jim started volunteering in November 2008. His dedication was so impressive that he was voted Volunteer of the Month by January 2009.
In 2008, V8 launched a Facebook program called "Make Every Serving Count" encouraging V8 fans to share their stories about their food bank experiences. The winner received a $500 donation to a Feeding America Food Bank for the Fruits and Vegetable program.
“When most people retire, they want to hang on to the job duties that they previously did. That was the farthest thing from my mind,” said Austin E. Sweet with a chuckle. “In my career, things smiled on me pretty well. It is time to give back.”
