With food needs growing across WNC, here are nine local organizations feeding the community that residents can both access and support.
Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry
Each year, ABCCM’s Crisis Ministry serves more than 20,000 hot meals to local people in need at its food pantries and soup kitchen. Volunteer opportunities and food needs are shared online, or you can donate.
Asheville Poverty Initiative
12 Baskets Cafe hosts weekly offerings of sit-down meals as well as to-go meals and groceries, with help from local business’ and restaurants’ food donations. You can donate to keep the kitchen’s pantry full and learn how to help out at the cafe and with food pickups.
BeLoved Asheville
This week, the nonprofit has introduced the EAT Card, feeding families, students, and seniors with gift cards to local stores. You can donate to help provide more funds.
BeLoved also has a food truck called Mama’s Kitchen to serve hot meals to communities in need as well as a network of 11 Street Pantries filled with food, toiletries, and other necessities. You can volunteer to make sure the pantries stay filled.
Bounty & Soul
This Black Mountain organization’s mission is to help share nutritious food, education, and community. You can also donate online to help the org share fresh produce with the neighbors or get involved at weekly produce markets, gardening projects, and cooking demonstrations.
Food Connection
Since its launch in 2014, Food Connection has delivered more than half a million meals and kept around 205 tons of food out of landfills. To support Food Connection, you can make a contribution or volunteer in several roles — plus, restaurants can donate extra prepared food.
Haywood Street
The Downtown Welcome Table, run by the Haywood Street Congregation with contributions from more than 40 local restaurants, works to bring people together and foster community over a comfortable meal. You can volunteer after attending a Companion Orientation, or donate money.
MANNA FoodBank
As the largest food bank in WNC, MANNA works with 220+ nonprofit pantries, meal sites, and other community-based organizations to feed families across the region. You can donate shelf stable and fresh, refrigerated, and frozen food at its warehouse at 99 Broadpointe Dr. in Mills River. Monetary donations are also accepted, with every dollar providing four meals.
MANNA also serves the community with mobile markets and the MANNA food helpline — they also have a food finder tool, showing a map of local pantries with hours and contact information.
Southside Community Farm + Free Fridge AVL
The farm’s free grocery program serves Southside residents by stocking refrigerators at several locations with fresh produce, ready-made meals, and staple foods. You can find fridges behind the Eddington Center, inside Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, and at 382 S. French Broad Ave. Free pantries are located at 214 Livingston St. and the Grant Center.
Learn more about how you can contribute to the program at this time.
YMCA of Western North Carolina
The YMCA of WNC Mobile Markets are set up as free farmers markets at various locations across five counties offering free produce, demonstrations, nutrition information, and recipes. Volunteer opportunities include food sorting and helping out at the markets — plus, a variety of other food-related programs.
