CHARLOTTE, N.C. — People have stocked up on food to fill their tables for the holiday week, but having enough food to eat isn't easy to achieve for many people.
According to Feeding America, one in every eight people are unsure where their next meal will come from. Over 1.2 million North Carolinians are facing hunger and more than 300,000 of them are children.
Danielle Moor with Loaves and Fishes in Charlotte said that food insecurity is becoming more and more common.
"More people than you think are struggling with food insecurity," Moore said. "Just this year we looked at data, from January to October we had already served over 112,000 people and that surpassed last year which was 106,000.”
She pointed to the growing numbers and said it has much to do with inflation and the expiration of government programs.
On Wednesday, Nov. 22, volunteers packed cars and they were en route to drop off the much-needed food. The goal was to distribute more than 4,5000 turkeys and holiday food boxes.
Aimee Baldwin is one of the volunteers and has been delivering for three years. She said it means the world to her and she has a personal connection to this initiative.
“I was working a job many years ago that was barely meeting the bills so I reached out and contacted to the pantry to help with that," Baldwin told WCNC Charlotte.
Across town, people shopped at the Loaves and Fishes food pantry and grabbed items they needed. Moore and Baldwin said it's a time to reflect.
If you are looking for help or assistance with food, Loaves and Fishes call their main line at (704) 523-4333.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.