Nourishing Our Neighbors Campaign Launches Public Phase to Combat Food
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh is proud to announce the public launch of its Nourishing Our Neighbors Campaign. With more than 80% of its $6 million goal already raised through lead donor commitments, the campaign is poised to significantly transform the way families across Eastern and Central North Carolina access nutritious food.
Every day, families in urban, rural, and remote communities throughout the Catholic Charities 54-county service area face hunger and difficult choices. For many, the nearest grocery store is miles away, and transportation barriers make healthy food out of reach. One in four children and one in twelve seniors in North Carolina face food insecurity. These challenges demand more than short-term fixes, they require innovation, education, and compassion-driven action.
Through Nourishing Our Neighbors, Catholic Charities is transforming their food pantry services by focusing on accessibility, education, and sustainability. The agency will be improving food pantry access by increasing mobile food distributions, launching educational programming focused on nutrition, and building a food truck social enterprise that will sustain services long into the future.
“Food is one of the most basic and powerful ways we serve others,” said Lisa Perkins, CEO of Catholic Charities. “With the support of generous donors, we are expanding our reach, reimagining how we deliver food, and offering families the tools to build dignified, healthier futures.”
Thanks to early campaign support, elements of the vision are already coming to life. Across the agency, offices have implemented and expanded their mobile food pantries, bringing groceries directly into communities that previously had limited options. At the same time, community garden projects are taking root, helping families grow their own produce and reconnect with healthy, sustainable eating habits.
“Our mission has always been to meet people where they are,” Perkins added. “Now, that means bringing groceries to a remote neighborhood in a refrigerated van, helping a family plant their first tomato seedling, or welcoming someone to shop with dignity at a choice pantry.”
The Nourishing Our Neighbors Campaign is also launching a new social enterprise, the Savor Food Truck. Based in the Triangle and available for events throughout central and eastern North Carolina, Savor offers a flavorful bowl-based menu with Asian, Tex Mex, and Mediterranean inspirations. Every meal purchased supports mobile food pantry services, creating a steady revenue stream that strengthens long-term sustainability. Savor invites the community to enjoy great food while supporting efforts to reduce hunger across the region.
The Nourishing Our Neighbors Campaign will reshape how services reach families in need. By 2028, the campaign will make it possible to provide healthy groceries to more than 160,000 individuals each year, host 120 community events with the Savor food truck, and build 80 new garden opportunities throughout the region. These improvements represent a comprehensive approach to meeting hunger with innovation, dignity, and long-term impact.
How You Can Help
Every dollar raised will directly support neighbors in need, families choosing between groceries and rent, seniors living on fixed incomes, and children whose growth and learning depend on proper nutrition.
To learn more or make a gift, visit CatholicCharitiesRaleigh.org/NourishingOurNeighbors.
Together, we can provide help and create hope for our neighbors in need.