Feeding Charlotte transforms food waste into lifeline amid rising insecurity

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As food insecurity continues to rise across Charlotte, local pantries are getting creative in their fight against hunger, with one organization “rescuing” food that would otherwise be thrown away to feed those in need.

Feeding Charlotte, a hunger relief organization led by Rich Armenia, has emerged as a vital link between food waste and food need in the region. The group collects surplus food from major venues like Bank of America Stadium, Sam’s Club, Atrium Health hospitals, and local restaurants, then delivers it to people struggling with hunger.

“I’ve heard it described as the dumbest problem that we face in the United States,” Armenia said. “It takes an organization like Feeding Charlotte to act as the conduit between where food is wasted and where it’s needed.”

The organization has experienced explosive growth, expanding its impact by 570% last year alone. Feeding Charlotte now works with 208 donor organizations and delivers food to 83 groups, including homeless outreach programs, senior living facilities, summer camps and afterschool programs.

Volunteers drive their own cars and pay for their own fuel to collect and deliver the rescued food. Betty Alexander, who makes weekly food drops, said the abundance of available food has transformed her ability to serve others.

“Once I got connected with Feeding Charlotte, there was so much food coming in we could just go out and serve many people,” Alexander said. “It feels good because you know nobody is going hungry.”

The work comes as more than 100,000 people face food insecurity in Mecklenburg County. The growth in food rescue operations has provided a lifeline for organizations like Hearts and Hands Food Pantry, which recently lost crucial federal funding.

Kenya Joseph, who runs Hearts and Hands, said her organization was a major recipient of the Local Foods Purchasing Agreement through the USDA with their food hub Freshlist from 2021 until the funding was cut. The program had covered the expensive produce costs entirely.

“The rug got pulled when that funding got cut and now we’re in a position where we have to cover all this,” Joseph told WCNC. But they can’t afford to do so.

“The first thing we had to do, we had to decrease amounts of food we’re able to give people,” she said.

Feeding Charlotte’s numbers reflect both the success of the food rescue model and the growing need in the community. The organization used to deliver an average of 50,000 meals per year but expects that number to reach 400,000 this year — a situation Armenia describes as both good news and bad news.

“We have more partners helping out, but also more mouths to feed,” he said.

Contact Michelle Boudin at [email protected] and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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