2025 Impact Report: Half Million Meals

Feeding Avery Families provided 600,000 pounds of food to our neighbors in need during 2025. That’s enough groceries to create half a million individual meals – a value of $1.2 million! More highlights:

• Served an average of 545 families (1,573 individuals) each month during weekly distribution days and mobile distributions. During 2025, we served 6,062 unique individuals. Each family typically received 80+ pounds of food per month, including groceries, frozen meat, fresh produce, bread, desserts, and more.
• Supported by 300 volunteers working 15,000+ hours, providing most of the operational labor. In other words, we could not operate without them!
• Distributed 161,000 pounds of fresh produce to promote healthier eating habits. Most was donated by MANNA FoodBank, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, TRACTOR Food and Farms, and the WAMY Community Garden just across the street. A last-minute donation of 40,000 pounds of cucumbers by The Society of St. Andrew-Carolinas didn’t put us in a pickle… we quickly delivered to many pick-up spots around the county! Other produce was purchased from local farms and stores.
• Secured much of our food at low or no cost through special opportunities with regional partners, federal programs and local food drives. This kept the FAF food cost per individual meal at 14 cents. A sampling: MANNA FoodBank, 292,000 pounds; The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by USDA Food and Nutrition, 62,597 pounds; Lowes Foods in Banner Elk, food purchased by customers at check-outs through the “Friends Feeding Friends” program: 55,000 pounds; Food Lion in Banner Elk donated meat, deli & bakery items, picked up four days a week by FAF volunteers: 40,000 pounds
• Increased mobile distribution to 142 households (up from 42 in 2024). This includes six monthly pick-up sites throughout Avery County for those unable to drive to Newland on Fridays.
• Purchased a refrigerated box truck to safely transport food to mobile sites, plus pick up food donations and purchases. A big thank you to the American Red Cross and High Country Charitable Foundation for grants that covered the cost.
• Provided weekend food bags for 150 students weekly in Avery County schools with easy prep items for six meals and two snacks at home.
• Delivered boxes of classroom snacks weekly to all schools in Avery County for teachers to share with hungry students.
• Supported local youth summer programs and camps (4H and YMCA) with snacks.
• Gave 800+ turkeys and hams and holiday sides as additional food given in November and December.
• Distributed personal hygiene care items thanks to donations from local organizations, Project Dignity and individuals.
• Provided shoppers with food samples and recipes for current items in the pantry.
• Offered free dog and cat food to families with pets. Special thanks to My Best Friend’s Barkery for collecting donations.
• Served 300+ Hispanic seasonal workers during May-September in partnership with High Country Community Health, including special evening hours for pick-up.
• Welcomed 1,200 new individuals requesting help during the pause in SNAP benefits in the fall. November was an all-time record month (excluding Helene), serving a total of 2,685 individuals.
• Continued additional efforts for Helene Recovery, distributing supplies as they were donated.
• Expanded our community outreach: Participated in Healthy Kids Day and the Avery Latine Fair at Williams YMCA, Avery County Back to School Bash, and Long Term Recovery Group outreach events. Invited community partners into pantry during distribution to share resources with neighbors – Renew NC, Hope4NC Helpline,   Wine to Water, Avery Long Term Recovery Group, Oasis, WAMY Community Action, FEMA, Pisgah Legal Services, Mayland Community College and more.