Provided by George Shaw
The Big Picture
Increased requirements at Pantries. Demand at our pantries has grown significantly during the last several weeks while two of our eight pantries have suspended operations, Hope House in Wake Forest and New Bethel in Rolesville.
Tri-Area Ministry reports a 50% increase in the number of families and 57% growth in the number of individuals served during the first week of April compared to the first week of March. Nearly a quarter of those who received food at Tri Area in early April had never been clients there before.
Impact of growing unemployment. Our pantries serve a much broader area than Wake Forest, Rolesville and Youngsville. Unemployment in Wake County was 3.5% in February, about 25,000 people. If the rate were to increase to 8%, an additional 35,000 would be out of work. This is likely to impact those in lower wage jobs disproportionately such as those working in restaurants as well as sales associates and part time positions. An increase of this magnitude would put significant pressure on our pantries and distribution programs.
Updates and New Initiatives
Rise Against Hunger (RAH) rice. $15,000 was raised primarily from Wake Forest and Cary to pay for rice from Rise Against Hunger. Nearly half of the 46,000 pounds will be distributed directly to pantries in Wake County as well as from Greensboro to Dunn to Durham. The balance will be sent out by the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina to some of their 300 agencies across one-third of the state.
Gleaning. Wake Forest residents have harvested crops at the farms for many years. Gleaning is sponsored by the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) who coordinates events that glean about 5,000,000 pounds annually in the Carolinas. Major events during the year are the Sweet Potato Drop at St. Catherine’s (held on February 29) and Yam Jam (which is scheduled for Jason Brown’s farm near Louisburg in early October).
Volunteers from the Methodist Church & Richland Creek gleaned about 500 pounds of kale near Norlina and delivered them to 3 local pantries over several days . The farmer was unable to sell the produce at local markets and turned to SoSA. The cycle of gleaning will start up in May-June for berries, July-August for summer squash,corn & melons and then sweet potatoes for the early fall. Many green crops (collards, broccoli and kale) are gleaned through the end of the year or beyond.
Food distribution and donations. The volume from food distribution and donation programs continues to increase. Raleigh Dream Center added two additional curbside distribution sites in Northeast Wake Forest at the end of March. The drive through food drive at the United Methodist Church has started receiving donations from other organizations. The canned goods, shelf stable food and hygiene products are then donated to Tri Area Ministry and North Wake Church.
North East Community Coalition work with residents. The initial conference call was on April 2. The purpose of the initiative is to better understand their concerns and issues given the uncertainty surrounding us. Wake Network of Care will be the “first stop” for resources to help. Coalition leaders will work with residents to identify their needs and match them to non-profits in the northern part of Wake County. A number of partner organizations are already working with NECC including ChurchNet, Step Up Ministry and Dress for Success. Additional resources are required for counselling, working with families with kids, and seniors.
How residents can help
There are several ways that residents in our area can help:
Donate food to pantries. Our pantries that remain open need canned and shelf stable food as well as hygiene products. The best time to donate to them is in the hour before they open for customers.
Organize drive through food drives. These are easy for organizations to set up. It helps to have a protected space such as a patio protected from the elements as well as an area indoors where the food can be stored overnight.
Donate funds. Food pantries spend much of donated funds on what they need to ensure customers receive nutritious food. This includes fresh produce at grocery stores as well as weekly pick-ups from the food bank in Raleigh. The food bank charges pantries 19 cents a pound for most items including meat.
Identify resources. The Northeast Community Coalition and other organizations are looking for non-profits that can help residents with needs arising from the economic consequences of the virus.
Volunteer. As the number of customers rises, there may be a need for more volunteers at our pantries and feeding programs. There is particular need for younger volunteers who are at least risk of catching the virus. Gleaning in the fields to pick crops will start up late spring under the sponsorship of the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA).
Drive. There will also likely be an increased requirement for folks who are willing to help out by driving. This includes transporting food between pantries as well as delivering food to homebound citizens.
Reduce Isolation. There are opportunities to help fellow residents in this time of uncertainty. Please call, email or text someone you know to make sure they are okay.
Distribution Programs and Contact Information
Please contact the Wake Forest Gazette or George Shaw (g0b07shaw@gmail.com) if you are aware of additional programs or would like to start one.
Glory Tabernacle (120 Weather St., Youngsville)
– Tuesdays, 2 pm
North Wake Church (1212 S. Main St., WF)
– Sundays, 8:45 to 10:30 am
Northern Regional Center (350 E. Holding St., WF)
– Mondays – Thursdays lunch/breakfast program (drive by)
– Friday weekend special program (drive by)
Oak Level Christian Church (2279 Cedar Creek Rd. Youngsville)
– Wednesdays, 11 am – 12 noon
Raleigh Dream Center (programs at New Hope Village in Northeast as well as mobile home parks in Rolesville and Youngsville)
– Weekdays starting at 11:30 am
– Saturdays starting at 10 am
Richland Creek Community Church (3229 Burlington Mill Rd., WF)
– 2nd & 4th Saturdays (drive through)
Rolesville High School (1099 E. Young St., Rolesville.)
– Wake County Public School System Children & Family Meal Site
– Weekdays, 11 am to 1 pm
Rolesville Middle School (4700 Burlington MIlls Dr., Rolesville)
– Wake County Public School System Children & Family Meal Site
– Weekdays, 11 am to 1 pm
Tri Area Ministry (149 E. Holding St., WF)
– Mondays, Wednesdays & 3rd Saturdays, 10 am to 1 pm (drive through)
– Food distribution at Spring St. Church (northeast WF) 4th Saturday
Universal Outreach (4913 Universal Dr., WF)
– 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9-11 am
Wake Forest Baptist Church
– Good Neighbor Ministry, Saturdays at 11 am passes out hot dogs and water at Taylor St. Park
– Mobile Soup Kitchen, Wednesdays starting at 5:45 pm in the parking lot at Olive Branch Baptist Church
– Mobile Market (partnered with Inter Faith Food Shuttle, 3rd Tuesday starting at 4 pm (drive through)
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