About
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a Raleigh-based hunger relief organization and one of the largest food assistance networks in the United States. Established in 1980, it serves as the central hub of a hunger relief network of more than 700 partner programs across a 34-county region of central and eastern North Carolina, including no-cost food markets, pantries, meal sites, and initiatives serving children, adults, and seniors. It is a member of Feeding America and of Feeding the Carolinas.
Mission
The Food Bank works every day to provide food to people in need while advancing long-term solutions to end hunger in its communities. Its vision is a future where no one goes hungry, treating hunger as a community-wide symptom of not having enough nutritious food, income, or voice in decisions — and of barriers to employment, education, housing, and healthcare. Its 2030 Strategic Plan, Rooted in Community, prioritizes improving neighbor access, increasing equitable food access, expanding policy and advocacy efforts, and advancing supports that address the root causes of hunger.
What they do
- A network of 700+ local food assistance sites — pantries, no-cost markets, meal sites, and delivery programs
- Mobile Pop-Up Markets bringing fresh produce and pantry staples to communities with fewer traditional pantry options, with no residency, income, or ID requirements
- SNAP outreach that helps residents access grocery support (SNAP/FNS serves more than 1.4 million people across North Carolina)
- Food sourcing at scale with retail and agricultural partners
- Disaster relief, including emergency food, water, and ready-to-heat meals after major storms
- Senior programs, including monthly Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) boxes for low-income people age 60+
- School and summer programs through school-based pantries, weekend take-home options, and summer meal sites
- Nutrition education, job training partnerships, healthcare partnerships, and bipartisan advocacy for anti-hunger policies
Scale and impact
The Food Bank reports that nearly 630,000 children, adults, and seniors across central and eastern North Carolina face hunger — about 1 in 7 people in its service area. Its hunger and impact data across all counties served shows 105 million pounds of food distributed and 86 million meals provided by the Food Bank network. In 2025 the organization marked 45 years of service.
History
The Food Bank was established in 1980, with Barbara Oates serving as founding executive director beginning in 1982. Peter Werbicki served as longtime CEO, and Amy Beros is the current President & CEO.
Financials
The Food Bank is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Tax ID 56-1283426. According to its IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for fiscal year 2024 the organization reported total revenue of about $234.0 million, total expenses of about $238.6 million, and total assets of about $103.2 million (figures include the value of donated food).