The need for healthy food brings neighbors back to the Johnston County Mobile Market each month, and they are not alone. Nearly 80,000 people across the Food Shuttle’s service area lost monthly benefits of at least $95 per family when the SNAP Emergency Allotments were rolled back in March. Over 9,000 of them live in Johnston County, including Sarah, Jim and Luther.

Members of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality joined food bank and food hub leaders from around the state at the Food Shuttle Farm for the inaugural Food Rescue Roundtable to address efforts to reduce food waste and improve the effectiveness of hunger relief.

Every once in a while, an idea comes along that is so simple in concept and makes so much sense that you wonder why things haven’t been running that way all along. That’s what happened with the produce initiative at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. The idea was to buy produce at wholesale prices from limited-resourced local farmers and connect those farmers to partner agencies in their area who are distributing to neighbors in need. 

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has been awarded an $800,000 Feeding America Retail Agency Capacity Building Grant. This significant funding will assist in growing the Food Shuttle’s retail rescue program by building capacity of agency partners to improve equitable access to nutritious food, with a focus on strengthening rural and/or communities of color. The grant is funded by Feeding America and the Walmart Foundation

Thanks to our amazing supporters, the year-end campaign garnered an impressive $483,833. Add to that the $100,000 match funding provided by 4 Others Foundation and Oak Foundation, and holiday giving totaled well over half a million dollars.

We want to introduce you to the folks who have made it their mission to carry out the mission of the Food Shuttle—who come to work each day to feed, teach, grow, and cultivate an end to hunger in our community. First up, our amazing team of drivers.

Brighten your holiday season with WRAL Nights of Lights Drive-Thru Light Show at Dorothea Dix Park, brought to you by WRAL/Capitol Broadcasting Company in partnership with the City of Raleigh. On Saturday, December 10, visitors to Nights of Lights will have the opportunity to help create a hunger free community during Food Lion Feeds Night in support of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

At the Wake Forest Baptist Church Mobile Market, organization is the name of the game. The volunteers who run the program operate like a well-oiled machine, as they pack, move, and load up food items for distribution to neighbors in need on the third Tuesday of every month.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has long been a partner with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in addressing the ongoing health of our community through ensuring that all our neighbors receive the nutrition they need to lead healthy, active lives. Recently, the AHA activated funding for the Food Shuttle by leveraging a network of funders for a project outlined in a grant that had been submitted to them last fall.

The award is presented to a team member who “owns the mission” of the Food Shuttle, demonstrates that “compassion means action,” and is a consistent “builder of people.” This year’s Chef Terri Award was recently awarded to Kay Holloway.

Many wonderful friendships have started at the Food Shuttle! The bond that has formed between Kay Holloway and Younes Alsoqe, two Food Shuttle team members, is a wonderful example of such a friendship.

Rachel’s passion for serving her community made her the perfect choice to nominate for 7th Annual Food Lion Feedys Awards, which honor people who go above and beyond to fight hunger. She received the Lion Heart Award in recognition of her outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating volunteers.