Staff and volunteers at the Durham Community Food Pantry take great pride in the volunteer cultivated garden located in the back of the pantry. Ask Suzan Perry, Master Gardner and DCFP volunteer, about the garden and watch her beaming smile as she talks about everything that is currently in season and almost ready to be harvested. Suzan started the garden three years ago with only a small, wild space, and a dream of providing the freshest produce possible to the pantry’s clients. When asked why she started the garden she… Read More
Food insecurity is often accompanied by other issues which exacerbate the challenges individuals are facing. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot, or HOP for short, is a new holistic approach undertaken by the NC Department of Health and Human Services to address shortcomings in housing, food, transportation, and interpersonal safety and toxic stress. This program is designed to help struggling, high-needs Medicaid enrollees by providing non-medical interventions to improve health outcomes. Many of the enrolled individuals have been referred to the Tar River Regional Office by Access East, the organization responsible for… Read More
Staff Spotlight: Sue Williams In the heart of Durham, North Carolina, Catholic Charities is making a significant impact on the lives of individuals and families in need. At the forefront of this regional office is Sue Williams, the Program Director of the Durham Community Food Pantry. Since joining Catholic Charities in December 2022, Sue has brought her passion, experience, and unwavering dedication to providing help and creating hope for the community. Before her role at the food pantry, Sue worked in social services in New York, gaining valuable experience in… Read More
The Durham Bulls demonstrated their commitment to the community by partnering with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh. In a generous initiative, the Bulls pledged to donate a portion of every ticket sold through a dedicated Catholic Charities link to the organization’s Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP). On Friday, June 23, 2023, the Durham Bulls prepared to face off against the Syracuse Mets in a highly anticipated match. However, Mother Nature had different plans for the event, as a passing thunderstorm and accompanying drenching downpour delayed the game by… Read More
In a cheering display of community support, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers baseball team recently partnered with Catholic Charities, with a portion of each ticket purchased by Catholic Charities supporters donated to the Fayetteville Regional office. The event took place on Thursday, June 15 at Segra Stadium in downtown Fayetteville, where a closely contested match unfolded. The Woodpeckers emerged victorious with a final score of 4-3 over the Columbia Fireflies. The charitable initiative served as a remarkable example of how sports and philanthropy can come together to make a positive impact on… Read More
This April, Catholic Charities staff took an extra moment to thank the volunteers who are critical to making Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh the best Catholic Charities in the country! National Volunteer Week was celebrated during the week of April 16-22 and provided a special opportunity to highlight the countless hours of service that volunteers dedicate to our community. In her letter to volunteers, Lisa Perkins, CEO, praised the impact volunteers make by saying, “Last year, you were part of a team of 750 volunteers contributing over 34,690… Read More
Catholic Charities celebrated its 11th Annual Gala with flair and style Saturday, April 29, 2023. The Gala was held at the beautiful Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, which provided a perfect backdrop for the festivities. The record-breaking 350 attendees, including the greatest increase in new attendees in the history of the event, arrived in black-tie attire, ready for a night of celebration and fundraising. The atmosphere was electric, with a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation in the air, culminating in nearly $270,000 raised to support the work of Catholic Charities…. Read More
More than 300 people gathered at Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO) Food Pantry in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday, April 22, 2023, for the 11th Annual Pig Pickin’ and Open House! The fundraiser was a resounding success, with attendees enjoying delicious food, lively entertainment, and the opportunity to support a worthy cause. The annual celebratory event helps raise funds to support CPO’s work to distribute nutritious groceries to the community. The event featured a pop-up bake sale, which was a hit with attendees. Local volunteer bakers and supporters donated dozens of… Read More
From NC Catholics WILMINGTON – The Cape Fear Regional Office of Catholic Charities recently moved into a new 6,000 square-foot space on Highway 421. About half of the facility, which is leased, is warehouse space. The other half includes rooms for office work, a client-choice food pantry and a food prep area with walk-in refrigeration, freezers and food packing space. The grand opening and blessing took place March 8 and drew donors, community partners, employees and volunteers for an afternoon of speakers, refreshments and self-guided tours. The office was formerly… Read More
With 70 years of combined experience in the food industry, Bob and Elaine Herrick regularly find creative ways to translate their knowledge into creative ways to support Durham Community Food Pantry operations. The couple moved from Buffalo, NY the day after Bob retired, with Elaine retiring only a few months earlier. They relocated to North Carolina to be closer to their son, daughter and two grandchildren who live in Carrboro and Durham. While volunteering, Bob and Elaine have shared stories about their holiday family gatherings in this area or joint… Read More
