For 37 years, FeedNC has redefined what it means to serve a community, proving that thinking differently can not only address immediate needs but transform lives and build stronger futures. “To meet the needs of a changing community, we must evolve and listen,” is the guiding principle of Lara Ingram, CEO of FeedNC, the Mooresville-based nonprofit and 2023 Iredell County Community Foundation grant recipient. For her, it defines what it means to think differently in philanthropy.

FeedNC’s Grassroots Grocery is a unique take on a food pantry – serving around 6,000 community members in Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Cabarrus Counties.

FeedNC’s mission is to create connections to food, education and essentials with dignity by providing families access to quality food, workforce development and education, as well as teaching agriculture and sustainability. To help achieve this mission and improve the connection between healthy eating and healthy living, FeedNC launched Grassroots Grocery – a unique take on a food pantry. Unlike a typical pantry that offers pre-packaged baskets or limited selections, FeedNC’s Grassroots Grocery program mirrors the experience of shopping at a conventional grocery store. This innovative approach enables families to walk through aisles stocked with fresh, high-quality products, selecting items that meet their personal preferences and dietary needs. By offering the dignity of choice, FeedNC empowers individuals to make decisions based on their unique circumstances, just as they would in any other grocery store.

Ensuring that every visit meets the diverse needs of the community, eligible households can receive up to $150-$200 in groceries per week with one appointment. Through this initiative, FeedNC is actively transforming food assistance into an empowering, respectful experience that fosters a sense of normalcy and independence. A FeedNC grocery member shared, “I am a single mom and work six days per week. FeedNC has made such an impact by stretching what I make and helping feed my son and me. I am so grateful.”

 

Serving far and wide

FeedNC serves approximately 6,000 community members across Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. In 2023 alone, FeedNC served 45,000 meals, delivered 1,500 groceries, saved its members more than $4 million and had 20,000 visits to Grassroots Grocery. In 2023, FeedNC was awarded $10,000 from the Iredell County Community Foundation, a regional affiliate of Foundation For The Carolinas.

FeedNC is a 2023 recipient of a $10,000 grant from our regional affiliate, the Iredell County Community Foundation, to support workforce training.

“We do not view the grant award as a transactional gift,” said Bonnie Battalia — FeedNC’s chief development officer. “It is a transformational gift that allows us to expand our program, educate more students, share resources and celebrate the success. We are profoundly grateful for the trust and support the Iredell County Community Foundation provides FeedNC.” This award supported the organization’s culinary and warehouse workforce development training as well as their job placement program — a 12-week program that focuses on supporting participants in achieving upward economic mobility through providing life skills, hands-on training and job placement.

“I came to the program with a blank canvas,” said Heather, a 2023 graduate of FeedNC’s culinary program. “My life had no direction, I had no real ambition or goals. The kitchen or cooking knowledge I had was from working in fast food. I was homeless for 12 years, in an abusive relationship with a man who wouldn’t allow me to cook at all. … I looked at this class as a way to ensure that my daughter would NEVER be stuck like that, she would always have a marketable skill to fall back on. And then, (FeedNC) showed me that I can do it, too!” With the support of their grant award, FeedNC’s impact for 2023 includes: 32 students enrolled, 91% graduation rate and 411% income increase across graduates. “It is not just about offering meals,” said Ingram, “it is about ensuring a healthier, more stable and prosperous community for all.”

About the Iredell County Community Foundation

The Iredell County Community Foundation, a regional affiliate of Foundation For The Carolinas — led by a local boards of advisors — was established in 1989 to encourage philanthropy and secure resources to address local issues of Iredell County. Since inception, it has awarded more than $2.7 million to dozens of nonprofits. Their 2023 grantees include, among others:

• $10,000 to Speak Life and Live to help students achieve grade-level proficiency in literacy and math.
• $10,000 to Chestnut Grove Community Center to continue to offer community-focused programs.
• $10,000 to FeedNC to support the culinary and warehouse workforce development training and job placement program.