According to Feeding the Carolinas, one in seven Carolinians are food insecure. With six locations throughout 34 counties in North Carolina, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (Food Bank) is among the largest anti-hunger organizations in North Carolina who envision a future where no one goes hungry.
Erin Courtney, Network Engagement Manager for the Food Bank
The Food Bank accepts food and non-perishable donations from a variety of sources, such as grocery stores and food manufacturers, which are then distributed to local partner organizations. The Wilmington Food Bank supports 89 organizations through various feeding programs in Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover and Pender counties. Each organization they support is fully vetted and approved.
Since 1988, the Food Bank has partnered with Stepping Stone Manor, Easterseals PORT Health’s home for adult men who require daily supervision on their journey to recover from substance use disorders. Each week a residential team member from Stepping Stone Manor picks up a box of both fresh food and non-food items from a designated Food Lion grocery store. For 37 years, the men at Stepping Stone Manor have relied on the Food Bank to alleviate their food insecurity so they can focus on recovery. In 2024, Stepping Stone Manor received 6,147 pounds of food, which is equivalent to 5,123 meals.
“If the basic needs of the residents we support aren’t satisfied, it’s more difficult for them to focus on recovery and work toward sustained goals of independence. Stepping Stone Manor strives to provide a safe, recovery living environment with a variety of care coordination,” says Jade Knudson Day, Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health & Stepping Stone Manor.” Working with the Food Bank gives the men one more solid support in the community to get their food needs met.”
In 2017, the Food Bank partnered with our EMPOWER After School program in Wilmington, NC. As needed, the program manager picks up snacks from the Food Bank that are shared with the kids. In 2024, the Food Bank donated 1,469 pounds of snacks, which helps to ensure kids have snacks as they work on their homework and participate in other after school activities.
“The Food Bank is essential in providing snacks, drinks and supplies to our program. Without their donations, we’d have limited access to these items and would have to ask families to supply them,” says Landon Rutherford, Easterseals PORT Health Program Manager for EMPOWER Wilmington. “The support the Food Bank provides ensures we’re able to run our program in a more meaningful and effective manner. It allows us to spend our budget on activities and equipment to create a better experience for the kids. Without the Food Bank as a partner and a resource, we’d be much more limited on the opportunities we’re able to provide.”
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina provides safe and nutritious food to people in need while advancing long-term solutions to end hunger. “The relationship with partner agencies is paramount to the Food Bank fulfilling its mission. I’m grateful to serve such an impactful network of organizations and to support such vital services to our community,” says Erin Courtney, Network Engagement Manager, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.
For more than 40 years, the Food Bank and its branch locations have served as the central hub of a network that has grown to 600+ partner programs across a 34-county region. Through their networks, they are able to provide free food markets, pantries, meal sites and a host of initiatives that serve children, adults and seniors. Most of their partnerships with donors and donation recipients are the core of long-standing relationships that continue to make positive steps in supporting a future where no one goes hungry.
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Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, behavioral health and addiction treatment services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,600 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.
