The second annual Easter meal giveaway was organized by the Raleigh Rescue Mission, with support from Meals on Wheels and Christ the King Presbyterian Church. About 300 volunteers helped prepare the meals, while 165 drivers picked them up for delivery across communities including Zebulon, Fuquay-Varina and Rolesville.
"For me, it's just being able to give back," said Kathy Foote, a volunteer who typically helps during Thanksgiving and Christmas but signed up immediately when she learned about the Easter effort. "It's important to take care of what's going on right here at home. If it's through an organization like Raleigh Rescue Mission or Meals on Wheels, I'm willing to support it and give as much as I can."
Raleigh Rescue Mission staff emphasized that the event relied heavily on volunteers not only donating their time, but also their own resources.
"The fact that so many drivers are coming out here and using their gas to drive all over Wake County means a lot," said Carla Tuttle with the Raleigh Rescue Mission. "They're giving their time and their resources just to make sure other people have enough to eat, and we truly appreciate that."
Tuttle said the goal of the program goes beyond providing meals, focusing instead on making sure neighbors feel seen and supported. She recalled one man who worried he might miss the delivery window.
"He said, 'This is the only food that I will have until Monday,'" Tuttle said. "And I know he's not alone. There are so many people across Wake County who are food insecure, and with food prices so expensive right now, we just want to do what we can to help."
Additional support for the Easter giveaway came from organizations including the Carolina Hurricanes and Yellow Dog Bakery.