It’s always exciting to start a new partnership with new funding that can create new opportunities for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to address hunger in our community. One such partnership is with Save the Children, an organization known worldwide for their humanitarian work on behalf of young people. Recently, Save the Children came on board as a Food Shuttle supporter with a $25,000 Holiday Boxes for Rural Children grant. ‘Tis the season for providing expanded nutrition to families and children in Nash, Edgecombe, and Johnston counties!
“When it comes to meeting the needs of rural neighbors experiencing hunger, the barriers in play look very different than they do in Raleigh and Durham. That’s why rural-focused partners like Save the Children are so crucial to our mission,” said L. Ron Pringle, President and CEO of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. “To have such a powerful investment by a funder that is not only new to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, but new to North Carolina, is amazing because it ensures we can do what is necessary to meet the true needs of our rural neighbors.”
The Save the Children funding has supported two Holiday Box distributions at Head Start facilities in Princeville and Rocky Mount. Food boxes featuring healthy, culturally relevant shelf-stable items, cheerful recipes, and holiday focused educational materials were made available to families. In addition, boxes of fresh produce were provided for the distribution at Nash Edgecombe Wilson Community Action. Neighbors also received delicious, fresh meals of hamburger steak with gravy, roasted brussels sprouts, and fresh bread from our Spinning Plate food Truck. All in all, families were overjoyed to receive such a windfall of nutritious, familiar, abundant foods to fill their pantries at home for the holidays.
“Through our partnership with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, we hope to ease some of the burdens faced by families experiencing hunger and help stretch tight family budgets this holiday season,” said Melissa Needham, Lead Associate for Food Security, Education, Hunger & Resilience at Save the Children. “Our Holiday Food Box grant provides funding to organizations like Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to ensure children and families in rural NC receive ingredients to prepare and share a holiday meal together.”
And what are the holidays without gifts? As an additional holiday treat, our friends and long-time partner, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, are providing toys and gifts for the children and families at the Princeville and Rocky Mount Head Start facilities. This annual sharing of generosity will go a long way toward making the season much brighter for all. A wonderful example of how our community is coming together to share holiday joy with our neighbors this season.