There was a time in my life when I was a single mom doing everything I could to make ends meet. I worked hard, stretched every dollar, and still had moments when the grocery store checkout felt like a mountain I couldn’t quite climb. I remember the day I applied for SNAP benefits. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. It meant food on the table for my two daughters, stability for my home, and hope for my heart.

That experience never left me. It shaped how I see people, how I serve, and why I care so deeply about the mission of Feast Down East.

At its core, Feast Down East works to connect small local farmers with communities who need access to healthy, fresh food. Through programs like Fresh Bucks, we double the value of SNAP/EBT dollars spent on fruits and vegetables at our Mobile Market sites. Every dollar a family spends becomes two, turning financial barriers into opportunities for nourishment, health, and dignity.

When I first learned about Fresh Bucks during my interview process, I felt a tug at my heart. I understood exactly what that extra dollar means to a mother at the checkout stand. It’s more than a transaction. It’s a lifeline, a reminder that the Wilmington community believes in her and her family’s right to eat well. It’s also a direct investment in our local farmers, many of whom rely on these programs to sustain their livelihoods and keep our regional food system thriving.

This is why I am so proud to be part of Feast Down East’s mission. I see both sides of the story: the farmers who grow with love and care, and the families who can finally bring that same food home.

As we enter November, a season that calls us to gratitude and generosity, I think often about how giving connects us all. Supporting Feast Down East, whether through a donation, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, helps nourish both bodies and communities. It helps ensure that no one must choose between paying the electric bill and putting fresh, local, affordable food on the table.

Giving Tuesday is on December 2, 2025. This day isn’t just about charity; it’s about community. It’s about recognizing that we all have seasons of need and seasons of plenty, and that when we give, we plant seeds of hope that can grow for generations.

So as the holidays approach, I invite you to join me in giving back, to the farmers, to the families, to the future of a stronger, healthier Southeastern North Carolina.

Written by Wendy Nilsen Long | Development Director at Feast Down East