While all food pantries provide clients with groceries, there exist varying pantry operation models, each with their own benefits and accompanying challenges. Over the past several decades, doctors, nutritionists, sociologists, policy analysts, and other social scientists have studied the methods and operations of different food pantry models. Their work has reviewed the effects of operations on clients’ individual lifestyles, as well as the effects of operations within larger social structures. This research has resulted in the recommendation that the opportunity for client choice be included in the food distribution model…. Read More
At the Catholic Charities offices of the Raleigh, Cape Fear and Tar River Regions, staff and volunteers worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to ensured that dozens of families are able to enjoy the holiday season, through the “Wrapped with Love” Christmas Program. This year has been very difficult for many families. Sharing gifts, despite the new restrictions that limit the organization of large gathering of people in one place, would provide some much needed joy for families. In Raleigh, at Centro para Familias Hispanas, the Wrapped with Love… Read More
The Newman Catholic Student Center Parish at UNC Chapel Hill (NCSCP) is a pivotal and invaluable partner to the Catholic Charities Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP). Since the inception of the DCFP, the NCSCP has been an ardent supporter in providing food drives, as well as individual donations. This fall, the NCSCP held their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive in support of the DCFP, titled the “Trunk to Truck Thanksgiving Food Drive.” Through this effort, parishioners donated groceries in the week leading up to Thanksgiving. Volunteers representing UNC students, parishioners, which… Read More
Suzan Perry started volunteering with the Durham Community Food Pantry in April 2020, right as the food pantry was adapting to distributing groceries during COVID-19. Due to the pandemic, many volunteers had decided to stay home for their safety, leaving a gap in serving the community. Staff conducted outreach efforts to find additional volunteers, which successfully recruited new dedicated helpers like Perry. “Without new volunteers like Suzan, we would not have been able to respond to COVID-19 like we did.” shared David Juarez-Torres, Durham Community Food Pantry Program Director. Hearing… Read More
Catholic Parish Outreach Food Pantry – Raleigh As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO) is experiencing its busiest time of the year. Hundreds of individuals and families are served in this time leading up to the holiday. On Tuesday, November 24th Bishop Luis Rafael joined CPO volunteers as they distributed food to clients. He spoke with volunteers before food distribution began and thanked them for their faithful service. This year food distribution was different due to COVID-19. The room where clients usually wait for a ticket is now… Read More
Eastern North Carolina has been battered by hurricanes over the past few years. Out of the devastation, many groups have reflected on service delivery methods and implemented changes to improve response activities for future storms. One example of this happening are steps that the Catholic Charities Cape Fear Office and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina – Wilmington Branch have taken to get food to survivors more quickly following a storm. Hurricane Florence brought multiple days of heavy rain to the state. Some rivers did not reach… Read More
Providing help, creating hope, serving all. This is the tag line for Catholic Charities. It is also an appropriate description of how Mrs. Patricia Gutierrez Tootoo works in the community. Due to her incredible commitment to others, Tootoo was recently nominated to receive the 2020 Impact Award. The annual Impact Award is organized by the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc. and New Hanover County Domestic Violence Advocacy Council (DVAC), in collaboration with the Pullman family. As their website states, “This award serves as a commitment to honor those lives… Read More
Lisa Perkins, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, and Kathy Johnson, Executive Director of Oak City Cares, recently shared the update below regarding the operations of Oak City Cares and the relationship between Catholic Charities and Oak City Cares. The letter has been posted to the Catholic Charities website for all to review. Dear Friend of Oak City Cares and Catholic Charities, We hope this message finds you well and healthy as we write to share exciting news about the future of Oak City Cares. As… Read More
A grand opening, developing a new nutrition program, and adapting all of this to COVID-19. These are all things the Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP) has accomplished over the past 18 months. The DCFP opened its doors to the community in May 2019, after moving from a small office on University Drive, to a 7,400 square foot facility in the Lakewood Shopping Center. With the expanded capacity, Catholic Charities looked for additional services to pair with the distribution of food to provide more comprehensive support for families. In 2019, Catholic… Read More
Recently, StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce released their annual 40 under 40 list. This year, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh is excited that our Regional Director for the Cape Fear Office, Ms. Emilie Hart, was included on this list. Following this recognition, we sat down with a few of Hart’s coworkers and community partners to learn more about why she was a good candidate for inclusion on this list. In speaking with those who work with Hart, many repeated themes emerged, including a positive energy… Read More
