MOORESVILLE, N.C. — According to the latest data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, about one in six children in the state are facing hunger right now. The problem worsens in the summer months when school is out and students may not have access to healthy meal options.
Mooresville-based group FeedNC is seeking solutions to food insecurity in the area. The group has a dining room where families can get free breakfast and lunch.
FeedNC CEO Lara Ingram told WCNC Charlotte's Julia Kauffman the room fills up quickly in the summer, so they decided to launch a food truck.
For the first time, FeedNC is bringing its free meals to three areas that need help in Mooresville.
"We knew a lot of those kids did not have the capacity to get to the dining room, especially if mom and dad are working," Ingram explained.
As the truck set up in one neighborhood on Thursday, rising high school junior April Ford walked up with her younger siblings.
"It helps my mom a lot," Ford shared.
Ingram said the truck is feeding about 100 children a week so far. "I do feel like we’re filling a gap for people that’s coming right into their neighborhood," she said.
The food truck, which a local church donated to them, not only keeps hungry kids fed during the summer but also helps local grocery stores cut down on food waste.
"The majority of food that we distribute would end up in a dumpster," Ingram said. "So, we’re just happy it’d provide a family or child food."
Volunteers get to know families living in the neighborhoods they visit in hopes of helping and building trust with them.
"The idea is that they’d then be able to come in and receive additional services at FeedNC," Ingram explained.
She hopes word will continue to spread about the food truck and its other programs so more children can get food. She added that FeedNC is always looking for volunteers.
The food truck will make stops in three different neighborhoods on July 11, 18, and 25, and August 1. The Stonecreek Apartment's time slot is 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The truck will then be at the Sedgefield Apartments from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will make its final stop at Piedmont Pointe from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
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Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.