Cameron Morgan joined the Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP) team in April 2020 having previously worked at “The Scrap Exchange,” next door. However, Cameron had actually already worked with the DCFP since its inception in 2019. As the Covid-19 pandemic began to grow, the DCFP found itself in a precarious situation. It needed to continue growing and serving the community and navigate the serious danger posed by the rapidly worsening virus. Since reopening to the public, Morgan has worked tirelessly to operate, manage, and coordinate food distribution efforts as well… Read More
Gordon Davis started volunteering in February 2020 at the Durham Community Food Pantry and has since become a key volunteer. Davis, more commonly known as “G-man,” loves gluten-free, savory foods! He is always ready to better serve the clients of our community and always looks out for his fellow volunteers. Davis initially stepped in to help with food distribution, serving the community during our drive-through operations hours. He also frequently used his handyman skills to repair items around the pantry. However, with the increase in clients due to Covid-19, the… Read More
Each week, some of the produce donated to the Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP) may be old, or not suitable to be distributed to the public. The DCFP works with community partners to dispose of this unusable food in a way that reduces costs for the pantry while having a positive environmental impact. One such partner is Lewis, who uses food that can’t be distributed as chicken feed and to create soil compost! In addition to being a gifted local musician, Lewis is a sustainability focused Durham farmer who has… Read More
On Thursday, September 9th, the “Triangle Business Journal” hosted an awards luncheon for their class of 2021 Leaders in Diversity at The Umstead Hotel and Spa. Among this year’s winners was Lisa Perkins, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh. As Perkins was on stage accepting her award, she shared the quote by Audre Lorde, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” Through her career, Perkins has focused on the second part of that quote:… Read More
Each year, the Catholic Charities Board of Directors gathers to welcome new members. This September, for the first time in two years due to COVID-19, the Catholic Charities Board was able to gather in person to celebrate this event. On Sept. 2 a commissioning ceremony was held in the chapel of the Catholic Center, which is the main office for the Diocese of Raleigh. Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama presided over the ceremony and thanked the new board members for responding to the call to serve Catholic Charities in this capacity…. Read More
Message from the Executive Director Thousands of Afghan refugees are resettling in the U.S. because of the dangerous situation in their home country. They helped the U.S. military for 20 years and now they need the help of others. At Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, we work to provide help, create hope, and serve all, including these recent Afghan refugees. However, providing refugee specific services is a complex process and requires a specific skillset, one that is not currently part of our services. Catholic Charities will look to… Read More
RALEIGH – The Triangle Business Journal announced its 2021 class of Leaders in Diversity awards July 27, and Lisa Perkins, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, was among the 12 individual winners. According to a TBJ online news story, the program is designed to “recognize the accomplishments of Triangle businesses, individuals and nonprofits as they come together to weave a diverse foundational fabric into the heart of the local community.” The story noted that “winners have demonstrated respect for inclusive treatment of others, advocacy for underrepresented… Read More
Fayetteville Region: Parish Highlight Series Support from local parishes is vital for Catholic Charities offices to meet the many and various needs of individuals and families within the Diocese of Raleigh. Each year, the staff at the Catholic Charities Office in Fayetteville witness the enthusiasm for helping others displayed by local parishes which supports them in providing high quality services to the community. This week, we are featuring the incredible work of Good Shepherd Catholic Church and their local Knights of Columbus Council who have been incredible supporters of the… Read More
In summer 2020, the produce-packing room at the Durham Community Food Pantry filled with the smells of oregano, cilantro, parsley, thyme, and basil. Local organizations such as the Scrap Exchange and churches such as Holy Cross kindly donated bundles of herbs and vegetables every week fresh from their community gardens. Each Tuesday, volunteers marveled at the bright peppers and bulbous tomatoes. Families received boxes filled to the brim with local produce and flavors of North Carolina. As volunteers and staff members discussed the incredible impact of the donations from local… Read More
Generating Resources and Opportunities for Wellness – that is the mission of the GROW project and how the program got its name. Founded by a group of UNC Chapel Hill undergraduates, GROW is “a social innovation project” aiming to “create resources and opportunities centered around mental, physical, and nutritional wellness for those experiencing food insecurity in the Triangle.” The GROW team plans to curate these resources for Durham Community Food Pantry clients through a series of programs throughout the summer. The team will bring in local experts, host demonstrations, and… Read More
