Good News Friday: The NC food banks stepping up as federal shutdown threatens SNAP

North Carolinians are spreading kindness and care this week: from NC food banks stepping up to Asheville being named the “Nicest Place in America.”

Here are two stories that capture the heart and spirit of North Carolina this week. 

Across the Triangle, neighbors are coming together to make sure no one goes hungry, showing what true community looks like in times of uncertainty. And in Asheville, kindness continues to shine as residents prove that compassion and resilience are part of what makes our state so special.

Advocates flood NC legislature as Medicaid cuts squeeze providers

As we head into the weekend, here’s a little brightness to carry with you; a reminder that good things are happening all around us. Happy Friday!

For past editions of Good News Friday, click here. 

Here are the NC food banks stepping up amid shutdown

Neighbors and organizations alike say they are rallying together as federal closures strain local families. 

The federal government shutdown has stretched resources for food pantries across the Triangle. And next week, without action, an estimated 1.4 million North Carolinians—and 42 million nationwide—could lose access to food assistance as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) runs out of money.

The federal government shutdown is in its fourth week now, with few signs that it will end soon. Democrats are calling on Republicans to extend federal health care subsidies that are heavily relied up on by North Carolinians and many in the South.

As Cardinal & Pine’s Michael McElroy wrote in September:

“While shutdowns are not necessarily immediately catastrophic, they are a bit like a rolling snowball: The longer they tumble down the mountain, the bigger they get and the more damage they do. The longer a shutdown goes, the likelier it becomes that programs like Head Start childcare, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) could lose more funding and reduce services.”

Local groups are trying to fill the gap, with community members organizing donation drives and extending pantry hours. It’s proof that when times get tough, North Carolinians show up for one another. In addition to the expected surge in demand, food banks need volunteers to help out.

Here’s a listing of local food banks working in NC, but to search for a local food assistance program using your zip code, use this map provided by the United Way of NC.

NC food banks

Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC: Covers a 34-county area in NC.

Feeding the Carolinas: Networking connecting 10 food banks serving NC and SC.

Second Harvest NC: Based in Winston-Salem, but serves an 18-county area in northwestern NC.

Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast NC:  Based in Fayetteville and serves seven counties in the southeast.

Feeding America: Connects seven food banks across the state, with locations in Charlotte, Raleigh, Elizabeth City, and more.

Manna Food Bank: Serves 16 counties in western NC, but based in Asheville.

There are also numerous faith-based organizations and local churches helping out. For a searchable map of food banks near you, go here.

Asheville, despite Helene, named ‘Nicest Place in America’

The mountain town is earning national praise for its kindness and resilience.

Recently, Reader’s Digest crowned Asheville the “Nicest Place in America,” highlighting its compassion and the way neighbors helped one another rebuild after recent storms.

According to USA Today, the town received a record number of nominations, “highlighting how its residents came together” following Helene. Readers Digest shouted out the “grassroots relief efforts to neighbors helping neighbors,” pointing out that they “showcased a powerful culture of self-reliance and mutual aid that defines the city.”

From cleanup efforts to community events, locals are continuing to lift each other up,  showing what it really means to be a welcoming and kind North Carolina town.

The publication says that the “Nicest Places in America” is an annual search for “communities where kindness thrives, differences are embraced and people come together to make life better for everyone.”

Readers Digest receives nominations for consideration in the contest. Past winners include Buffalo, N.Y., Provo, Utah, and Kodak, Tenn.

Despite Helene, Readers Digest named this North Carolina city the ‘Nicest Place in America’