One Simple Idea. One Neighborhood at a Time.
People across Northwest North Carolina want meaningful ways to support their communities. Often, what they need is a simple way to get started—and a clear connection to an organization doing trusted work close to home.
A new partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina and PORCH Communities is creating that connection through recurring, monthly neighborhood-led food collections.
The PORCH model is straightforward. Participating food assistance organizations identify the shelf-stable foods that would be most useful. Neighbors contribute those items on a designated collection day. Volunteer coordinators gather the donations and deliver them directly to a local organization. Then, the community does it again the next month.
What begins with a bag of groceries on a front porch can grow into sustained community involvement.
Building on the strengths of each partner
Second Harvest works alongside approximately 600 partner programs across 18 Northwest North Carolina counties. These organizations know their communities, understand local preferences, and provide essential access to nutritious food.
PORCH Communities brings an established model for turning community interest into organized, recurring action. The organization equips volunteer coordinators with the training, tools, and support needed to establish and sustain local collections.
Together, Second Harvest and PORCH can connect people who want to act with trusted organizations already working in their communities.
“This partnership is about strengthening the capacity of communities to respond to the needs of residents,” said Eric Aft, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. “Second Harvest brings strong relationships with food assistance organizations across our region, while PORCH brings experience organizing neighbors around consistent, local action. By sharing those strengths, we can help build stronger, more food-secure communities.”
More than a one-time food drive
Traditional food drives can generate valuable support. PORCH adds a recurring structure, designed to build consistency and connection over time.
Participating food assistance organizations identify requested items, including versatile and culturally familiar foods that reflect the preferences of the people they serve. That helps neighbors make informed contributions and helps local organizations receive foods they can readily share.
Monthly collections can also introduce more people to the work happening in their own communities. A neighbor who begins by donating a bag of food may become a volunteer, an advocate, or a long-term supporter of a local organization.
“Communities already have people who care and want to make a difference,” said Christine Cotton, founder and executive director of PORCH Communities. “PORCH gives them a practical way to come together, support a local food assistance organization, and make that involvement part of their regular routine.”
Two ways to participate
Community members can serve as PORCH Neighborhood Coordinators, organizing recurring collections through a neighborhood, workplace, faith community, school, civic organization, club, or other local network. PORCH provides the guidance and resources needed to get started.
Second Harvest food assistance organizations can also explore becoming PORCH partners. Participating organizations help identify requested foods and establish collection and delivery arrangements that work for their operations and communities.
This partnership complements the many community-led approaches already supporting food access across Northwest North Carolina. By creating more ways for people to participate, Second Harvest and its partners can continue building the relationships, resources, and local capacity that help communities grow stronger.
A bag of groceries. A willing volunteer. A community ready to act. Sometimes, a simple idea is all it takes to begin.
