For 20 years, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC’s Providence department has proven that food can do more than nourish—it can open doors, restore dignity, and create opportunity. What began as a small culinary training program has grown into one of Second Harvest Food Bank’s most dynamic strategies for strengthening communities, developing talent, and delivering fresh, nourishing meals where they are needed most.

Bruce Sherman likens hunger to a statement by Desmond Tutu: “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they are falling in.” Bruce and his wife Peggy understand the need to alleviate hunger now while developing long-term strategies to eradicate food insecurity and its root causes. That’s why the Greensboro couple decided to include Second Harvest Food Bank in their estate plans in addition to their

Each week Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC CEO Eric Aft offers a behinds -the-scenes look at the work of feeding hope, healthy, and opportunity.

Susan’s voice catches as she tries to speak. “Bernie has truly enriched my life. No matter what she’s going through, she’s always thinking of others. Every little bit adds up—what she does for Second Harvest in a year is amazing. I truly want to be like Bernie.”

“We have people that come here that have different challenges and obstacles in their life,” he said. “We work with people as to the best of their abilities. I ask students in the beginning, ‘Do you want to be just OK or good or very good?’  It starts right here with the fundamentals. Can you cook rice pilaf? Can you make a vinaigrette? An emulsion so it doesn’t separate in five minutes? The end result is that plate right there. I tell them in the beginning, ‘I’m not going to

Shutdowns do not unfold like a storm that arrives and departs abruptly. They seep. They compound. And they hit hardest in the lives of people with the fewest buffers — the families whose budgets were already so tight that one unexpected bill, one late paycheck, one delayed benefit tips them into crisis.

One of the most common misconceptions about people who turn to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC network for help is that they are somehow taking advantage of the system—people who are lazy, chronically unemployed, or battling addiction. But when you take a closer, more compassionate look, the truth is far more complex—and far more human.

Across our 18-county region, more families are turning to our network of food assistance partners — not because they are doing anything wrong, but because the ground beneath them keeps shifting.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, the regional Feeding America affiliated-food bank serving 18 counties across northwest North Carolina, is deeply concerned about the federal government shutdown and its potential impacts on families in our region.

Data is more than numbers on a page. It’s how we see the real struggles and strengths of families and communities, and how we hold ourselves accountable to building a more food-secure future.

On the second day of classes at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, students are enjoying a welcome week event on the plaza near the student union. By campus estimates, a third of them are hungry or worried about feeding their families.

One year ago, Hurricane Helene swept across our region, leaving deep and lasting scars. Families lost homes, jobs, access to food — and in many heartbreaking cases, they lost loved ones. In the face of overwhelming grief and need, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC — with the support of thousands of donors, volunteers, and partners — mobilized to deliver immediate relief and stand beside our neighbors when it mattered most. Today, we remain — walking alongside communiti

Stand With Us. Nourish What Matters. At a time when many of our neighbors are being cut off from access to food and stability, our...

When Darrell Reynolds drives a Second Harvest truck across Northwest North Carolina, he carries more than bread, produce, and meat. He carries the weight of lived experience—of knowing what it is to go hungry, of surviving on the streets, and of being lifted up by someone else’s kindness. Today, that history fuels his optimism, his compassion, and his daily commitment to help others.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC successfully completed the first trial run of its new Meal Response Unit—a mobile kitchen designed to deliver hot, nourishing meals to communities in crisis.

Eight women aged 64 to 83 filter in for the next-to-last session of Stay Strong, Stay Healthy (SSSH), a community-based exercise program offered by Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. The eight-week workshop is aimed at older adults to help them maintain strength, balance and flexibility, ultimately enhancing their overall health and independence.

“You have to put a face to policy.” That belief is at the heart of Fanta Dorley’s work. As the founder of Journey Adult Day Center in Greensboro, she works closely with adults and seniors with disabilities—many of whom quietly struggle with food insecurity in ways that are rarely acknowledged in policy papers or legislative agendas.  

With every stop it makes, Second Harvest’s Mobile Nutrition Services unit brings more than just fresh ingredients and fun activities—it brings a message that healthy food can be joyful, accessible, and empowering. Whether through a garden bed, a blender, or a simple dance party, kids are discovering that wellness starts with curiosity, choice, and community. And thanks to strong partnerships like the one with the Salvation Army’s Ken Carlson Boys and Girls Club, that message

At Second Harvest, we believe in fostering healthier communities through comprehensive support, and our Nutrition Services team is at the forefront of this work. We're proud to collaborate with many valued partners, including Pivot Ministry, to amplify our impact.

At Second Harvest, our volunteers bring our mission to life in countless ways—and this month, we’re delighted to spotlight Jalia Thompson, a vibrant, multi-talented member of our volunteer family whose dedication is helping our Fitzgerald Teaching Garden and Youth Garden Camp thrive.