Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina Needs Food

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina Needs Food

August 16, 2011 | Kathryn Mobley

The shelves of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina are bare.
According to Marketing Manager Tammy Caudill, the agency's main warehouse in Winston-Salem doesn't have enough food to serve its many clients. The shortage comes as a result of reduced federal funding and fewer local donations. Second Harvest serves 339 non-profit agencies in 18 counties across Northwest North Carolina, including 74 in Guilford County. Caudill also says the Piedmont's lingering unemployment is driving more lower and middle-class families to seek food assistance. In 2009, it distributed 7.9 million pounds of food, an average of 658,000 pounds per month. In 2010, its distribution increased to 15.6 million pounds of food, an average of 1.3 million pounds per month. Caudill says that this past July alone, 1.5 million pounds of food were given out.

At 7:00 p.m., Tuesday August 16, BB&T sponsored a "Fill the Stands with Cans" food drive during the Winston-Salem Dash game. All donations benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank. There were boxes at BB&T Ball Park's Broad Street entrance for those who wanted to drop off food but who were not attending the game. Food donations can also be made at various locations in the Piedmont. In Forsyth and Guilford Counties, food can be dropped off at all Goodwill stores and Lowes Foods stores; BB&T branches in Forsyth County are also accepting donations.