CAHEC's Nutrition Assistance Initiative Distributes Over 50,000 Meals to North Carolina Families

CAHEC's Nutrition Assistance Initiative delivered significant food support to North Carolina communities during November and December, distributing over 50,000 meals through coordinated partnerships with local food banks. The community investment organization sponsored three major food distributions and two school pantry programs, directly addressing food insecurity for low-income families across multiple regions.

In Rocky Mount, CAHEC collaborated with the Interfaith Food Shuttle, a nonprofit member of the Feeding America National Network of Food Banks. Volunteers prepared and distributed 21,029 pounds of food through drive-through distributions, providing approximately 17,524 meals to area households. Families received bags containing fresh produce, meat, bread, and non-perishable items, ensuring access to balanced nutrition during the holiday season.

A separate distribution in Greensboro, conducted in partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, served 294 households including 243 seniors, 404 children, and 394 adults. This event distributed over 37,000 pounds of food, equaling 31,029 meals, along with essential toiletries. Each participating household also received a gift card to a local grocery store, enabling them to purchase additional groceries, medicines, or other essentials according to their specific needs.

Beyond direct food distributions, CAHEC sponsored School Choice pantries at Southeast Raleigh High School and Sanderson High School. As of November 30th, this program had provided 4,203 pounds of food, totaling approximately 3,502 meals for students and their families. These school-based pantries offer discreet access to nutritional support within educational settings, reducing barriers for families experiencing food insecurity.

Stefanie Lee, Community Relations Manager, emphasized the program's significance, stating, "Providing nutrition assistance to our residents is a commitment we've made to ensure everyone has access to healthy meals year-round. Through this initiative, we go beyond housing to deliver essential support that builds stronger and healthier communities!"

The Nutrition Assistance Initiative represents a strategic component of CAHEC's broader Community Investments program, which aims to provide educational and wellness opportunities to families living in properties within the CAHEC portfolio. This approach recognizes that affordable housing represents just one aspect of community stability, with nutritional security serving as another critical foundation for family wellbeing.

For organizations like CAHEC that specialize in affordable housing development and community investment through programs including low-income housing tax credits and new markets tax credits, addressing food insecurity represents a logical extension of their mission. By partnering with established food distribution networks, they can leverage existing infrastructure to maximize impact while focusing on their core competencies in housing and community development.

The scale of these distributions—totaling over 50,000 meals across multiple communities—demonstrates how targeted corporate community investment can address systemic challenges like food insecurity. As economic pressures continue to affect low-income households nationwide, such initiatives provide immediate relief while building longer-term community resilience through improved nutrition and reduced financial strain on vulnerable families.