WILMINGTON, NC (July 21, 2026) — Feast Down East has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the New Hanover Community Endowment through its 2026 Spring Community Grants Program. This supports the organization's Farmers Fighting Hunger program and its mission to bring fresh, local food to New Hanover County residents facing food insecurity.

Farmers Fighting Hunger is a Feast Down East program managed through its USDA and GAP-certified Food Hub. The program provides partner organizations across New Hanover County—including senior centers, health clinics, and food pantries—with access to fresh, local, culturally relevant food. Through the program, partner agencies order wholesale items from regional small to mid-sized farmers via the Food Hub's online marketplace, giving them choice and variety in how they source food for the communities they serve.

The Endowment's grant will help cover a portion of food costs for these partner agencies, providing fresh, local food to an estimated 7,000 individuals in New Hanover County. In 2025, Farmers Fighting Hunger supported 13 local agencies, connecting the abundance of area farms directly to neighbors who need it most while strengthening the regional agricultural economy.

Feast Down East was one of 41 organizations selected from a highly competitive pool of 134 applicants in the Endowment's Spring cycle, which awarded $500,000 across New Hanover County. The program's Social & Health Equity pillar, under which Feast Down East's award falls, reflects the Endowment's commitment to expanding access to essential resources like healthy food.

"Community Grants support local leaders and organizations that make a direct difference in people's lives," said Sophie Dagenais, President and CEO of The Endowment.

Gratitude for a Lasting Partnership

This latest award continues a valued, multi-year partnership between Feast Down East and the New Hanover Community Endowment. The Endowment's ongoing investment has helped Feast Down East strengthen its food access programming, support local farmers, and expand its reach into the communities that need it most across New Hanover County.

"We are deeply grateful for the New Hanover Community Endowment's continued support of our work," said Jordyn Appel-Hughes, Executive Director at Feast Down East. "Their investment over the years has been instrumental in helping us build a stronger, more resilient local food system. One that connects our farmers directly to the families, seniors, and neighbors who benefit from fresh, healthy, local food."

Through programs like Farmers Fighting Hunger, Feast Down East ensures that food dollars circulate locally, supporting both household food security and the farmers who grow the food — a model that strengthens the entire regional food system.

About the New Hanover Community Endowment

The New Hanover Community Endowment's mission is to improve the health, education, safety, and economic opportunity of every person in the community. Through its Community Grants Program and other initiatives, the Endowment invests in organizations tackling the root causes of community challenges across New Hanover County.

About Feast Down East

Feast Down East is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Burgaw, North Carolina, working to build a stronger, regional food system. Through its Food Hub, Local Motive Mobile Farmers' Market, farmer assistance programs, and food access initiatives, the organization connects limited-resource farmers to new markets while expanding community access to fresh, local food throughout Eastern North Carolina.