February 21 Newsletter

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February 21, 2021

COVID, A Year Later

By Lisa Biordi, Volunteer

Click here to read the full article online.

One year ago, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. While life changed for all of us, many of our most vulnerable have experienced the most dire effects. According to the US Census Bureau, 1 in 3 households struggle to pay usual household expenses, while 1 in 7 struggle to buy food.

A large percentage of our clients are elderly or single parent families, and many clients are too ill to work. Most of our clients are the “working poor,” working two or three part-time jobs to try to make ends meet.

According to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, about 16% of the total population in the area “struggle to access nutritious and adequate amounts of food on a regular basis.” There is a chance someone you or your children knows suffers from food insecurity.

The Cupboard has witnessed the devastation imposed by COVID up close – we have seen an increase of 36% in the number of families requiring food assistance and a 28% increase in number of client visits. Demand for track out bags for children has increased almost 400%.

Pictured above, a trunk is loaded with food a Holly Springs Food Cupboard client family is receiving.

While the Cupboard has seen an increase in need, we also have experienced an outpouring of generosity from our community, partner organizations and recurring donors. This is especially important: according to the US Department of Agriculture, the cost of food has increased an average of 3.5%, with dairy prices up over 4% and meat prices skyrocketing by almost 10%. The ongoing scarcity of fresh produce and meat has forced the Cupboard to increase expenditures on these items. And with stay at home restrictions, school closings and social distancing, most of our food drives and fund raising events last year had to be cancelled – so donations from the community were appreciated more than ever.

We are proud and humbled that we are able to help others during this incredibly difficult time, and we are so very grateful to the community for their generosity supporting our mission – to provide supplemental food and referral assistance to those in need. A big thank you to all of you.

Click here to read the full article online.

Want to be a “Food Cupboard Farmer”?

Vegetables grown in the Holly Springs Food Cupboard garden are distributed weekly to those in need. Would you like to help us out on this gardening venture in 2021?

We are looking for some home gardeners who have space and time to help grow some of the fresh vegetables we distribute.

Home gardeners can grow spring, summer and/or fall vegetables for us.
We will supply you with the selected transplants and seeds of the produce we most need. You will supply the TLC and deliver the bountiful produce back to the Cupboard when harvested. We will be available to answer your questions and give you advice (always free and usually good)!

We will be starting soon! This is a great “family project” or youth activity that will help meet the growing need of hunger in Holly Springs.
Want to learn more? Contact us now at [email protected] for more information on the Food Cupboard Farmer program.

Thanks, Devils Ridge Golf Club!

Thank you so much, Devils Ridge Golf Club for donating 315.5 pounds of food from your food drive. ❤️ Thank you for helping local families in need.

Colorful & Healthy February Harvest

Check out the February Holly Springs Food Cupboard garden harvest – including carrots and turnips. These fall-planted vegetables do well in the winter. The soil acts like a refrigerator and they do not freeze.

Do you need food assistance? Know someone who does?

Please visit us. These are unprecedented circumstances, and we are here to help. Drive-through food distribution is every Thursday, 2-5 p.m. Deliveries are available to senior citizens and persons with compromised health or without transportation. Click here for more information.

Donating food?

Thank you! We are able to receive food on Mondays, 9-11 a.m. (this is our preferred time) and Thursdays, noon-5 p.m. Place donations on our delivery dock on the side of our facility and knock to allow for safe distancing. Or, give us a call and we can meet you to pick up food from your neighborhood.

Most needed items:

  • Pop-top meats
  • Shelf stable milks in individual or quart size (We cannot distribute out-of-date milk.)
  • Individual juices
  • Pop-top fruits

More Information

Thank you, again, to our dedicated volunteers and generous community for making everything we do possible.