Second Harvest holds biggest ever food giveaway as hunger rises in the Sandhills
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Second Harvest Food Bank in Fayetteville hosted its biggest food giveaway in its history Friday because of the rising number of families experiencing hunger in the Sandhills.
The food drive is expected to give away 100,000 pounds of food. Food Bank Director David Griffin said the increased need has long been in the making.
"From April last year to April this year, we saw a 283% increase in neighbors coming, needing food assistance," Griffin said.
He also said Second Harvest is drawing concern over how they'll be able to sustain helping so many people.
The food bank said more and more families are hungry because aid programs from the pandemic are over, and because of inflation at the grocery store. They also said the summer heat isn't helping.
"It drives up a whole lot because you're talking about healthy alternatives, foods, and things of that nature. And if the heat costs go up, then your utility bills go up because you're trying to cool your house or whatever it may be," Griffin said.
WATCH | Second Harvest Food Bank prepares for its biggest food giveaway
Community members who came by Friday said it makes a huge difference.
"I'm disabled now. I'm not long able to work, and now I'm trying to get three girls adopted," Tim Young, who was waiting in line, said. "So now, I'm trying every food I can get...I'm also grateful for the community and all the resources around here (can) do this for people."
According to Second Harvest, they usually give away food to around 250 households a month. However, this time, the team said they expect to give food to 2,000 households at the Crown Complex during the food giveaway.
Second Harvest said they typically have about 10 to 15 volunteers, but during the food drive, there were at least 80.
Volunteers and other organizations said it's moving to see the impact this can make on people.
"We've got people from all walks of life," Pastor Rick Barber from Restoration Place and Feeding Carolina said, "and it is amazing for all these folks to be able to come together and to serve our community."
