Triangle food banks need extra help this time of year
In this very community, where tall buildings are growing, expensive apartments and homes surround us and shopping center parking lots are full on weekends, there are hungry people.
By one estimation, a quarter of our children go to bed hungry, every night. And this time of year, months after the holidays stirred generosity, charities are hurting for food donations.
And so today, a campaign begins. The News & Observer and its community newspapers are sponsoring the Feed the Need campaign, with presenting sponsors Syngenta, Biogen and Harris Teeter. ABC-11 is a media sponsor.
Donations – preferably nutritious, nonperishable foods in plastic or metal containers – will be accepted through April 24 at certain Harris Teeter stores. Tax-deductible donations also are being accepted for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
On Saturday, April 25, between 1 and 4 p.m., volunteers will accept food and cash donations at select Harris Teeter stores. That is Feed the Need Day.
People do respond. The Salvation Army sent out a call because of diminished supplies and was overwhelmed with help. Urban Ministries of Wake County, also a supplier of food for the needy, is by its description holding steady but could always use help.
Believe it. There are hungry people, and so many of them are children or elderly citizens. Their circumstances are in many cases desperate.
Wake County and the Triangle are communities of plenty. But that is far from the case for all. If we can help, we must. It is who we are.
Want to give?
Donations can be made at feedtheneednc.com or by check at Feed the Need, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, 3808 Tarheel Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27609.
This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Triangle food banks need extra help this time of year."