We’re doing it again. For the third year!
Local is where we can move quickly, help our community thrive, and track our progress.
It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we work together. And for the third year we’re going to work together on this: PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro needs $10,000 to provide families with extra food this summer to bridge unprecedented need in our community. This donation button goes directly to PORCH:
With their November 2024 move into their first dedicated space, the PORCH Community Hub in Carrboro, PORCH has seriously expanded their impact in our community. As of writing this article, PORCH collects nonperishables from 129 neighborhoods across Chapelboro, provides fresh foods and pantry staples to more than 800 families each month, supports over 15 smaller community-rooted pantries, and has provided more than $8 million in hunger relief since its founding in 2010.
Now the ask. The summer months are always challenging. PORCH distributes food to families year round, however, when school is out, many families have to stretch tight budgets even further without the support of free and reduced-priced meals their children receive during the school year. This summer is particularly difficult with the strains federal program cuts have put on families and the exorbitant prices we’re all seeing at the grocery store and gas stations. At the same time, donations to food security organizations like PORCH go down during the summer months as many of us are out of town or have changes in our schedules. That creates the perfect storm of high need and low donations to support that need.
We can help PORCH and ensure that families in Chapel Hill and Carrboro are not going hungry this summer, and year round as well.
Here’s what we’re going to do.
You (and we) are going to donate money to PORCH to fill the significant gap in food donations during the summer months and make sure all referred families to PORCH can receive healthy food this upcoming school year. This donation button goes directly to PORCH:
Tell me more
Each summer, food donations go down in Chapel Hill and Carrboro as families embark on vacations and new activities shake up schedules. This is bad timing. Kids are out of school and families struggle more in summer months to provide full, nutritious meals for their children without the support of free and reduced-price meals at school. We have illustrated this here:
And then each August, social workers across our school district refer new kids and families to PORCH. Each month PORCH opens its doors to more than 800 families who can “shop” for over 30-lbs of fresh produce, meat or plant-based proteins, deli and bakery items, milk, eggs, diapers and period products, and two bags of pantry staples, all for free. They also work with every school in our district to provide snacks for students in need.
$10,000 will help PORCH bridge the significant gap in food donations during the summer months, providing what the families enrolled in their program have requested–additional proteins, cereal, and snacks.
Higher need this summer than usual
On top of the challenges we just outlined, PORCH anticipates the need in our community this summer to be higher than years past due to a few different factors. Firstly, portions of H.R.1 (also not-so-lovingly known as the Big Beautiful Bill) have gone into effect, meaning many of our neighbors have lost SNAP and Medicaid benefits. Secondly, as we near the first anniversary of Tropical Storm Chantal, families are still reeling from the effects of lost work, transportation, and housing, with some families still displaced. And lastly, have you been to a grocery store or gas station recently? Sky-high prices are forcing families to further have to decide whether they can afford their bills or their groceries.
What will PORCH do with $10,000 from blogbloggers?
PORCH are masters at leveraging partnerships with community organizations to procure the non-perishables and fresh foods they need to support their families at an extremely reduced cost, meaning your donation goes even further than it would at a grocery store.
“This summer is going to be particularly challenging for many of our neighbors,” says Erin Riney, executive director of PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro. “We would love if Triangle Blog Blog readers who are passionate about supporting our neighbors could join us in fighting hunger this summer!”
What if we raise more than $10,000?
PORCH will also be able to provide additional hearty snack packs– think tuna salad packets with crackers – during the summer, and also in the fall when school resumes. PORCH distributes food year round.
And PORCH will be able to say YES to more families who are referred this fall, thanks to TBB readers. Each additional $100 feeds another family each month. Each additional $1200 feeds another family for the entire year (bag of groceries, box of produce, gift card, gallon of milk, and 2 dozen eggs).
“Our goal is to avoid a waitlist, and we’d love if TBB readers who are also passionate about helping our community could help us do that!” says Erin Riney, executive director of PORCH.
Doing meaningful small actionable things at the local level gives you agency and also feels really good. Please donate and help us bridge the gap between low donations and high need over the summer months. Your support will make an immediate impact in the lives of our neighbors!
How else can I help?
PORCH collects food donations from 129 neighborhoods in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Each neighborhood has a coordinator that arranges monthly pickups. All you have to do is place the needed items on your front porch (get it? PORCH!) and they will do the rest. You can also volunteer your time helping sort food and running their market. It’s a great place for older children and high schoolers to spend some time serving their community over the summer. Click here for more details on how to get involved.
