It’s that time of year again. People join with family and friends to celebrate the holidays with festive meals and happy gatherings. Traveling, shopping, baking, decorating—it’s all part of the season as we make merry these last months of 2021. That’s the pretty image that is presented for this time of year, but for many of our neighbors, reality paints a much different picture. The fact is that one in seven North Carolinians face hunger on a daily basis and—for them—the holidays may provide little joy. For these neighbors, relief comes through a community of generous supporters who fund Inter-Faith Food Shuttle initiatives to end hunger. Now through December 31, through the You are the Heart of Our Community campaign, the impact of that support will be doubled thanks to a $100,000 Holiday Match Challenge funded by 4 Others Foundation and Oak Foundation.
Walkiria Castillo and her husband, Antonio, are raising four young daughters, living solely on the income from Antonio’s restaurant job. Walkiria used to work, but the cost of childcare just became too much for the family to cover. Once COVID-19 hit, Walkiria had to find new ways to feed her family and came across the Mobile Market schedule on Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s website. She started attending the Market and found that she was able to prepare meals for her family for two to three weeks after each visit. What’s more, the volunteers treated her with dignity. Walkiria shares, “They do a great job. It makes a difference the way they treat you. The people who volunteer understand that people go to the Mobile Market because they need to go there.” Her family also received a Gardens For Everyone garden box and Antonio grows vegetables to supplement the family meals. Walkiria recently began to volunteer at the Mobile Market because she too wants to be a part of the program that makes such a difference in peoples’ lives. “I love to help people,” she adds.
Through generous funding of programs like Mobile Markets and Gardens For Everyone, Food Shuttle supporters provide a reliable source of relief for families like Walkiria and Antonio’s. As more families turn to the Food Shuttle than ever before—many for the first time ever—the Holiday Match Challenge promises extended impact for all gifts made before December 31. The opportunity to paint the holidays a little brighter for families across central NC is here. Every gift will make a difference. To make your You are the Heart of Our Community year-end gift, please visit our website.