Canes players join food insecurity fight, promotes food bank's 'Goal to End Hunger Challenge'

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Carolina Hurricanes players are helping elevate a regional effort to fight food insecurity, promoting the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina's "Goal to End Hunger Challenge" as demand for assistance rises.

The campaign aims to raise $25,000 to help offset growing costs and meet increasing needs across the 34 counties the food bank serves. Players have recorded messages encouraging fans to get involved as the team heads into its first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 20 years.

"Hi hockey fans. This is Jaccob Slavin inviting you to team up with the Food Bank for the Goal to End Hunger Challenge," Slavin said.

Food bank staff say the campaign comes at a critical time. They report more people - including many first-time visitors - are seeking help, a trend mirrored across more than 700 partner agencies.

Food insecurity affects one in seven people in the Triangle and one in five children, according to the food bank. Needs typically rise during the summer when students lose access to school meals, and officials say higher grocery and fuel costs are making it harder for families to keep up.

Staff say rising expenses are also affecting their own operations, from transportation to sourcing food.

"The farmers that we work with are also seeing those increased costs and the drought that we've had on top of it and then our costs. So it really is this perfect storm right now that we're experiencing," said Amy Beros, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Volunteers say they are seeing the impact firsthand in their communities.

"It's definitely worse. I feel like the food situation got worse," said volunteer Bryant Cabral Pacheco.

He said some of his friends have turned to food banks after losing access to school-based meal programs.

"A couple of my friends graduated so they don't have the resources like the school lunch per se. So we go around to food banks for food," Pacheco said.

In addition to rising costs, the food bank points to changes in SNAP eligibility as another factor driving need.

"For every one meal a food bank provides, SNAP provides nine. So, with this reduction in SNAP, this means steep increases in need for folks and we're not able to fill that gap," Beros said.

Players continue to encourage community support through the campaign.

"Hey hockey fans. This is Logan Stankoven here from the Canes," Stankoven said. A moment later, Slavin reiterated the call to action, urging fans to participate in the challenge.

"Donate now and let's show Las Vegas what Carolina can do, on and off the ice," Slavin said.

The food bank is also seeking additional volunteers as demand continues to grow heading into the summer months.