Building Communities through Emergency Food Relief
Feast Down East is proud to support our local communities with the Emergency Food Relief Program (EFRP). This grant-funded initiative offers a cost-free solution for organizations and agencies to nourish their communities with fresh, locally sourced food. Through the program, we facilitate weekly orders for wholesale items from the Feast Down East Food Hub and provide vouchers for the Local Motive Mobile Farmers' Market.
Empowering Communities with Locally Sourced Nutrition
Our Partnership with the FarmsSHARE Program
Feast Down East is proud to be part of the North Carolina FarmsSHARE Program. This initiative, organized by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), seeks to boost access to fresh, locally-grown food in underserved communities while also supporting small North Carolina businesses to cultivate a thriving local food system.
Through FarmsSHARE, we offer regional organizations a cost-free way to nourish the communities they serve. Organizations place weekly wholesale orders from our Food Hub, giving them the autonomy to select foods that align with their program patrons' cultural and nutritional needs. This effort, funded by the Resourceful Communities Foundation and the FarmSHARE program, creates a local supply chain that fairly compensates everyone involved, supporting local food systems and assisting farmers in overcoming social and economic challenges.
Organizations We've Worked With
Partnerships with Purpose
We are grateful to have partnered with many organizations that share our commitment to combating hunger and promoting health. Some of these partners include:
- Communities In Schools Cape Fear
- Grandparent Support Network
- Harrells Christian Academy
- Pender County Christian Services
Contact Us
For More Information or To Become Involved
If you have any questions about our Farmers Fighting Hunger program please contact Kaiyon Williams, the Mobile Market Manager at 910-524-0269 or [email protected] – or fill out the form below.
Testimonials
"I love [the Mobile Market] because it gives people in these food deserts a place to go so they don't have to sit on a bus for an hour, and gives them an opportunity to get fresh food that is healthy and affordable."
Kelly, Rankin Terrace customer
"Working with Feast Down East I get into pretty much every restaurant that you can think of in the Wilmington area. I get to know the chefs, I get to know the owners, so I have a first-hand relationship with the people that buy our products."
Keith Sargeant, Farmer & Owner of Sarge's Farm
“This program has been absolutely amazing. The Grandparent Support Network and the YWCA Lower Cape Fear are extremely grateful for this partnership and opportunity. Additional grandparents have even been recruited through this effort.
Recently, we conducted a survey with the grandparents asking how we could serve them better, and their number one request was helping them have access and cook healthy and nutritious dishes. This program has not only eliminated a barrier but Feast Down East has assisted GSN in meeting a need, provided healthy nutritious foods, and allowed grandparents to relive some childhood dishes. The best experience has been the ability to expose new foods such as purple potatoes, rutabagas, beets, and Murasaki sweet potatoes.
Seeing the grandparents smile, hearing their thank you, has been very rewarding.”
Jhaniqua Palmer, Outreach Programs Director of YWCA, Grandparents Support Network
"I am 77 and live on a fixed income, yet I only receive $15 a month in food stamp benefits. I look forward to you coming every Wednesday, not just because you’re great, but I know if I save my $15 in food stamps to use with the Mobile Market, I can get $30 worth of fresh, local food over the course of the month! A man isn’t a man without his spuds (potatoes)."
Walter, Robert Taylor Senior Housing customer
"One of the things I love about the Mobile Market is that everything is based on what's in season. I also really love the grass-fed beef, and the eggs are so good! The prices are amazing. It's nice to know that these things are being raised humanely."
Kelly, Rankin Terrace customer
"My daughter woke up this morning craving kale - like that is a thing in a child. But y’all - I knew I was going to be able to purchase it today because you were going to be here and can accept SNAP."
Coco, longtime Local Motive customer
"I have been fortunate to be able to provide produce and fresh items weekly for over 20 families in need through the Emergency Food Relief program this year. The items are top quality and the ordering process allows me to choose the items that would be most useful and easiest for the school to distribute to the families. The families are grateful and are happy with what they recieve.
One family mentioned that they are so lucky to be receiving these items that families on most school sites do not receive. Without these items, those families might only be getting processed food items given to them each week. Eating high quantities of processed food is unhealthy for the students and has caused several of them to report that they are suffering from reflux earlier this year. Receiving fresh produce is detrimental for their health. I hope many more families will have a chance to enjoy this great resource."
Or Caudri
Student Support Specialist, Communities in Schools Cape Fear
"I live down the street [from The WIRE market] and I love coming to the market because it's very convenient to my home and getting my child from school, and I can do everything on my bicycle. I get eggs, stuff for vegetable soup, and beef livers for my dog because I make her dog food for her. I'm absolutely thrilled to support [the Mobile Market] because it feels good to support local farmers that are bringing this stuff to town."
Helen, The Wire w/ CIS customer
"I get a check every week from Feast Down East, which is a certainty. A lot of small farmers need to get into the market, and Feast Down East is a way to sell their products locally."
Keith Sargeant, owner of Sarge's Farm
“Pender County Christian Services has had great success with the Emergency Relief Program due to Covid 19. Our regular clients have really enjoyed these fresh foods and we have been able to see new families come and take advantage of this opportunity as well. Many have told us how much they appreciate those fresh vegetables every week and it has been very nutritional for them. Some have stated that they appreciated it because they could not afford to buy fresh food every week due to budget issues. This grant funding has made a difference in the lives of these clients."
Sandy Harris, Director of Pender County Christian Services
“I know that these vegetables will help a lot of low income and elderly people in this community. I appreciate all the help we can get from a program of this nature to help the most vulnerable citizens is certainly welcome in this District of Sampson County and I know others would appreciate it also. Please accept our gratitude for all you do.”
Commissioner Lethia Lee, 4th District Sampson County Commissioner, Harrellson Community Center
Support Our Fight Against Hunger
Every contribution brings us closer to our goal - ensuring that every individual has access to fresh, local food. By donating today, you support our farmers and help fight hunger in our community. Your generosity will directly fund our efforts to provide affordable, nutritious food to those in need. Stand with us in the battle against food insecurity.
Our Programs
Supporting Our Vision
Meet Our Funders
We are deeply grateful to these organizations and institutions for their financial support and shared commitment to local agriculture and food justice.
