Feeding Avery Families (FAF) is a non-profit Christian organization in Avery County, North Carolina, dedicated to eliminating hunger by any means possible including monetary donations, volunteerism, or food pantry donations. Our distribution center is located in Newland at 189 Old Vale Road (behind Avery County Board of Education and Mayland Community College, near Ingle’s).
100% of all your efforts and/or contributions on behalf of Feeding Avery Families goes directly to Avery County families (including towns of Newland, Banner Elk, Elk Park, Pineola, Linville, Crossnore, Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain) who still need help after exhausting all other available resources. FAF provides 60% of the food assistance in Avery County. We are an equal opportunity food provider.
Distribution Center
Through generous support from donors and grants, Feeding Avery Families opened a new operations center at 189 Old Vale Rd in Newland, NC. The new center provides great benefits for our neighbors and dedicated volunteers.
- Client choice allows neighbors to select items in a “shopping” experience, providing greater client satisfaction and significantly reduced waste.
- Perishable items can be safely stored in multiple walk-in coolers and freezers.
- Pre-packed boxes can be prepared and stored for drive-through, remote distribution and delivery programs.
- The demonstration kitchen / meeting room can be used for sample cooking, educational programs and meetings/events.
- Equipped with a generator, showers, laundry and HVAC, the facility can be used as an emergency shelter.
Looking Ahead
- Our health consultant is working on partnerships with county and area businesses.
- The goal is to provide further outreach and improve the health of clients and patients through nutrition education counseling and other health care services.
- We hope this allows us to reach even more hungry people in our communities – even working with doctors to write prescriptions for food.
- We will also focus more on getting more medically appropriate food to our clients with specific health needs.
Administration (photo above):
- Director: Jo-Ann McMurray (Left)
- Community Outreach / Latino Initiative Coordinator: Vanessa Benavides Phillips (Right)
- Bookkeeper: Patty Robinson
It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the passing of our beloved leader, Executive Director, Richard N. “Dick” Larson.
Dick passed away quietly at his home in Banner Elk, Saturday August 24th 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed by the staff and volunteers of Feeding Avery Families. Dick served as the Executive Director of Feeding Avery Families from June 2017 until his passing. Dick always promoted Feeding Avery Families with great passion, sincere devotion, and endless energy. His sense of humor, his craftsmanship, his musical talents will be remembered by all who knew him. Dick has touched countless lives through Feeding Avery Families, The Banner Elk Presbyterian Church and the Banner Elk Artist Gallery. His greatest achievement was his family. His wife Carol, son Chris, Daughter in law Julia, and grandson Reid.
Godspeed our friend.
Board of Directors:
- Cathy Fields, Laura Carringer-Russell, McNair Tornow, Rev. Michael McKee, Joe Zemanek, Larry Good, David Soyers, Jimmy Ennis and Tammy Woodie
FAF Annual Summaries
If you have questions, want to make a contribution, or volunteer, contact us at 828-783-8506. You can also mail us at P.O. Box 1075, Banner Elk, NC 28604.
