As the cost of living continues to soar, families across Wake County are facing heightened struggles to keep food on the table. The recent decision by the Wake County Public School System to increase meal prices by 25 cents may seem like a small amount, but it represents a significant burden for many households already grappling with food insecurity. 

We are pleased to recognize our generous supporters at The Leon Levine Foundation, who recently provided a multi-year gift in support of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. Gifts like this are vital in furthering our mission to eliminate hunger and create a healthy and hunger-free community. 

Wake County Public Schools increased all meal prices by 25 cents at a board meeting May 21. As summer approaches, the Food Shuttle calls upon the community to unite in ensuring that no child goes hungry, especially in light of the recent school meal price increase.

Through community collaboration and shared dedication, the SFSP exemplifies the power of collective action in addressing hunger. As summer approaches, let's unite to ensure that no child goes hungry in our community.

The draft Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (House Farm Bill) released on Friday by House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-PA) would slash future benefit adjustments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by nearly $30 billion over the next decade. These cuts would drastically reduce vital food assistance for millions of Americans, including many in our local community who rely on SNAP to put food on the table.

Every year, Feeding America estimates the annual food budget shortfall carried by people facing food insecurity – the gap between the money people facing hunger need to buy enough food and what they have. The Map the Meal Gap study shows a sharp rise in that budget shortfall in North Carolina, from $725 million in 2019 to over a billion in 2022: that 2022 figure is $1,099,431,000.

In 1989, Jill Staton Bullard and Maxine Solomon, launched their mission to combat hunger in North Carolina. They began rescuing surplus food and distributing it to those in need and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle was born. Decades later, their legacy continues to Grow Goodness as we reach thousands of individuals with vital nourishment every week. We are also tackling the root causes of food insecurity through innovative programs that empower people to build stable and secure lives, and by advocating for policies that eliminate systemic barriers. 

At Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, we believe in the power of community collaboration to combat hunger and nourish our neighbors in need. We are excited to shine a spotlight on Junior League of Raleigh, a beacon of generosity and compassion in our mission for a hunger-free community.

In February 2023, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle received a generous $800,000 Retail Agency Capacity Building Grant from the Walmart Foundation, in collaboration with Feeding America. Now, just one year later, this grant is enabling the Food Shuttle to provide its agency partners with essential refrigerated trucks, allowing them to better serve communities facing food insecurity.

In the world of retail there's an aspect that may be relatively unknown to the everyday person: the vital role that retail donors play in fighting food insecurity. Whether a local grocery store or a national chain, these companies are significant to our mission by donating surplus food and helping our immediate communities.