WILMINGTON, NC (January 20, 2026) – Feast Down East has received a $5,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to support and strengthen its Fresh Bucks program, which provides direct food purchasing power to SNAP recipients across Southeastern North Carolina. This funding comes at a critical time, as federal nutrition assistance funding remains uncertain and subject to ongoing policy changes at the national level.

Fresh Bucks allows SNAP participants to receive dollar-for-dollar matching, up to $25 — offering 50% off purchases of $50 of local, fresh and healthy food. Customers simply present their SNAP/EBT (food stamps) card at Feast Down East’s Local Motive Mobile Farmers’ Market, and Fresh Bucks are automatically applied. Unlike traditional matching programs, Fresh Bucks removes additional financial barriers, ensuring immediate and dignified access to fresh, locally grown food while simultaneously supporting regional and local farmers.

“Federal SNAP funding continues to be unpredictable, and that instability directly affects families who already face barriers to healthy food access,” said Wendy Long, Development Director of Feast Down East. “Support from partners like the Duke Energy Foundation helps us maintain continuity in programs like Fresh Bucks, ensuring our neighbors can still access fresh food even when larger systems are in flux.”

Feast Down East, based in Burgaw, operates a regional Food Hub and the Local Motive Mobile Farmers’ Market, working with limited-resource farmers to build viable farm businesses while expanding food access in rural and historically underserved communities. Through programs like Fresh Bucks, the organization ensures that public nutrition benefits circulate locally — supporting both household food security and the regional agricultural economy.

The Duke Energy Foundation’s investment helps Feast Down East continue Fresh Bucks programming during a period when many nutrition-focused nonprofits are navigating gaps caused by paused, reduced, or restructured federal funding streams. This support reinforces Feast Down East’s initiatives that strengthen communities, promote economic opportunity, and improve quality of life across North Carolina. Its investment in Feast Down East reflects a commitment to local solutions that address food access, resilience, and long-term community wellbeing.

About Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation is a philanthropic organization funded by Duke Energy shareholders. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations and initiatives that enrich communities and improve quality of life, with a focus on education, environmental stewardship, and economic development across Duke Energy’s service areas.

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 like Fresh Bucks, the organization connects limited-resource farmers to new markets while expanding community access to fresh, local food throughout Southeastern North Carolina.