PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro is on a mission to fight hunger by “mobilizing neighbors, building community, and providing fresh, healthy food”. Through four key programs, they are making a tangible impact on the community.
Their flagship program, Food for Families, is a powerful example of their work. Each month, the PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro facility in Carrboro transforms into a vibrant, client-choice food pantry. This isn't your typical food drive. It's a place where more than 700 local families—representing over 2,600 individuals, including more than 1,500 children—can “shop” for the groceries they need. Imagine a market where you can fill your cart with fresh produce, meat and plant-based proteins, dairy, eggs, and other essential groceries and hygiene products. This approach not only provides sustenance but also restores dignity and choice.
Beyond this, PORCH also provides snacks to all 21 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools through Food for Schools twice a year, and stocks 15 smaller, community-embedded pantries with their Food for Pantries program each month.
The team at PORCH believes that to truly solve food insecurity, you have to listen to the people you serve. They've built their programs on this principle, actively working to remove the barriers that prevent access to healthy food. They've even hired program participants to join their staff, ensuring that the lived experiences of community members are at the core of their decision-making. Regular feedback sessions, held in multiple languages, give families a direct voice in shaping the programs they rely on. By listening first, PORCH doesn't just address a lack of food; they tackle the systemic inequities that cause it.
The need for their services remains constant, with new families enrolling in the Food for Families program every month. Most of these referrals come from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, especially in the fall when social workers complete needs assessments for students.
Learn more at chapelhill.porchcommunities.org/. Photos courtesy of PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro.
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