Food Bank staff members take on the 'Hunger Challenge'
Thousands of North Carolinians struggle to feed their families on limited incomes.
Some who receive food stamps must figure out a way to feed each member of their household three meals at about $4.21 a day, according to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
That's why the Food Bank has staff members and other supporters taking on what organizers call "The Hunger Challenge," using that limited food budget to shop for a week of meals.
Learn more about the Hunger Challenge here
Food Bank worker Molly Rivera told us according to that budget, she's limited to about $27 for two people.
"I've got a list, ordered by priorities. At the top I've got potatoes, eggs, bananas, carrots, and onions, and it goes all the way down to the bottom where I've got coffee, bread, and fresh fruit," Rivera said.
She took her list to a Trader Joe's in Raleigh, and after less than an hour of diligent shopping, she emerged with most of the items she needed.
"I got oatmeal to make granola bars and oatmeal for breakfast, a bag of apples, potatoes, eggs," she said.
She explained buying in bulk, looking for sale items that are on her list, and using coupons made a difference.
However, she did not find big bags of brown rice or red beans this time.
"And the ones in the can are far more expensive and usually are higher in sodium. So I'm going to have to go to another store to get the dried red beans I'm going to be having for lunch," said Rivera.
But she told Eyewitness News she still came out ahead.
"I've got about 10 dollars left in my budget. So like I said, I'm going to shop around a little bit more."
If you're up for the challenge, she says her decision to shop with care calls for a lot of discipline, which means no impulse buying. But it can be done, if you stick to that budget.
"And every cent matters when you're on such a small one," she said.
