Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST)
What is NCFST?
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) is a network of partners and community members who are passionate about eliminating food insecurity in Northern Wake County. The NCFST also serves as a collaborative hub where volunteers and local organizations assemble to discuss and develop strategies to fight hunger in Northern Wake County with a special emphasis on areas in and around Wake Forest and Rolesville. Relationships established by NCFST are critical for securing and communicating the availability of needed resources.
NCFST Overview
In February 2018, the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners endorsed Wake County’s Comprehensive Food Security Plan making the Town the first in Wake County to join our area’s local food council, the Capital Area Food Network (CAFN). The plan is designed to move the county towards strategies that address hunger now and in the future.
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) was created to develop and launch a viable food security plan for northern Wake County that aligns with the CAFN plan. The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners charged NCFST with enlisting community members, food security organizations, resource experts, and other stakeholders to develop activities, policies, and partnerships that will move the county towards food security and a sustainable food future.
In the News
Thousands of Wake students need help to pay for school lunch
Wake County residents are being asked to pass the hat to help pay for school lunches for students who don’t have the money to buy them.
Child Nutrition Services explains that there are still students who may come to a spot where they cannot get lunch at school. After a certain number of comped meals, the school has to serve them just fruits and vegetables.
The Wake school system has created a districtwide “Angel Fund” to accept financial donations that would be used whenever students run out of money in their meal account. The fund would avoid situations where students have their lunch taken away from them and replaced with a tray of only fruits and vegetables. Shinica Thomas, chairperson of the Board of Commissioners, said the county will promote the new angel fund.
Here’s how you can donate: Parents who have a meal account can donate the balance of your student's account by completing this form. Community members who wish to donate can call Child Nutrition at 919-856-2918.
August Update from our partner Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry
As we enter the dog days of August, many of us are longing for cooler weather. Some of our volunteers are already saying they prefer winter—it's easier to warm up than to cool down! While I'm not entirely convinced, I wouldn't mind seeing temperatures dip below 90 degrees.
July was a remarkable month for us. We provided food to over 1,700 families—the highest number in our 36-year history. Thanks to the dedication of our incredible volunteers and the unwavering support of our community, we were able to distribute 100 pounds of food to each family in need.
However, summer is traditionally our slowest season for donations. With vacations and back-to-school preparations, it's easy for our focus to shift elsewhere. As a result, our shelves are alarmingly bare. We're urgently asking for your help to keep our community fed. We particularly need canned goods—soup, Chef Boyardee, beans, vegetables, and fruit. Our shopping list includes all the items we distribute, and we need 1,700 of each every month. Now would be an excellent time to organize a neighborhood food drive!
Donations can be dropped off 24/7 at our pantry or at several drop-off locations throughout the community. Monetary contributions are always appreciated, and you can also order items directly from our Amazon Wish List to be delivered straight to us.
Upcoming Events
2024 Youth Food Security Summit
Friday, Sept. 20 | 10 am - 4 pm
Did you know 10% of Wake County residents are food insecure? How can we include teens on this conversation? Join us for a day of interactive workshops and hands-on projects focusing on food security. Open to teens in grades 8-12.
Kars for Kids Charity Car Show
Saturday, Sept. 21 | Registration 7:30 - 11:30 am
Join us for the Wake Forest Optimist Club’s annual Kars for Kids Charity Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Market of Wake Forest. With over 200 cars of all types, it's always a fantastic event.
Tri-Area Ministry will be on-site accepting nonperishable donations. Show your car! And it’s a great family-friendly day—bring the kids and check out the cool cars! Spectator admission is free.
2024 CROP Hunger Walk
Sunday, Sept. 22 | 2-5 pm | Wake Forest College Birthplace, 414 N. Main St.
You can participate as part of a team, or as an individual. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Register here or scan the QR code.
Talk to friends, family and neighbors and invite them to join your team or sponsor you.
Join us in-person on Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Wake Forest Birthplace, 414 N. Main Street, Wake Forest, NC. Registration: 2 pm; Step off: 3 pm
Frosty Run
Saturday, Dec. 14 | Downtown Wake Forest
Mark your calendars for the annual Frosty Run 5k/10k on Saturday, Dec. 14, in downtown Wake Forest. Don't miss your chance to compete on this great course!
Tri-Area Ministry will be there, and all net proceeds from the race benefit our pantry.
NCFST Mobile Market EXTENDED until December 2026!
2nd & 4th Thursday of each month (Rain or Shine) | 3-5 pm | 350 E. Holding Ave.
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) is partnering with Ripe for Revival to offer a mobile grocery store on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m. across from the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave. Offering fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy from local and regional farmers on a pay-what-you-can scale, the Ripe for Revival Mobile Market made its inaugural debut in September 2023.
Ripe for Revival utilizes its network of farmer and food industry relationships to narrow the gap between farm excess and food access. The company purchases “retired” city or school buses, renovates them to include refrigerators and freezers, and transforms them into Mobile Markets that can drive into communities impacted by food insecurity. Rain or Shine, however, may be rescheduled due to severe weather.
2025 NCFST Bi-Annual Meeting
Date/Time TBD
The NCFST will host an in-person meetings on at Wake Forest Town Hall and at the Northern Regional Center. All are welcome to attend. Meals provided at the meeting, please RSVP for the meal.
Other Initiatives
NECC Community Garden & Gathering Space
Volunteers are needed to make the NECC Community Garden, 504 N. Taylor St., a success. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to volunteer! Visit the Northeast Community Coalition website to learn more.
Garden hours: Thursdays, 11 am-3 pm
Volunteer days: First and third Saturdays of each month
Facebook: /wfnecc
Instagram: @necccoalition
Community Meals
Wake Forest Community Table - Meals are served Mondays at Hope House from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at Olive Branch Baptist Church from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
They offer take home meals, casseroles, produce and groceries. Volunteers may sign up to help serve.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Joy Shillingburg.
Senior Hunger
These short videos were created to show the need to address senior hunger in our community - here is how you can help.
Volunteer Opportunities
The NCFST partners with local organizations to offer several volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Volunteers are needed for a variety of activities and initiatives.
Other volunteer opportunities are highlighted below.
Community Gardens
Volunteer at a growing number of gardens. For more information on the Wake Forest Baptist Church's Community Connections Garden contact Gene Cross, the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church Community Garden contact Melanie Floyd or the Spring Street Garden contact Tilde Caudle.
Local Food Programs
Volunteer to sort and distribute food at Tri-Area Ministry (TAM), Hope House, Back Pack Buddies, St. Catherine's of Siena, Richland Creek and other area organizations. Have extra produce you're your garden? Donate it to local pantries! For more information, contact Andrew Brown, Jr.
Wake Forest Area Hunger Ministry
The Wake Forest Area Hunger Ministry is a coalition of churches, civic organizations and service groups building a community-wide Hunger Ministry for North East Wake County and Youngsville. Volunteers are needed for a variety of activities and initiatives. For more information, email George Shaw or call 919-761-5295.
First Fruits Farms - Servant Center & Community Garden
Volunteer to serve your community by helping us at First Fruit Farms. Regular volunteer hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9-11 am. 1950 E. River Road, Louisburg, NC.
Gleaning
Harvest and bag sweet potatoes, corn and other crops on farms that donate produce for charity near Wake Forest during October for Yam Jam as well as all year around. The Society of St. Andrew coordinates these events. For more information, contact Dave Eaton.
Raleigh Food Bank
Sort anything from canned goods to frozen meet and veggies at the regional food bank. Generally 2nd Thursday of each month from 1-3 pm and once a quarter from 6-8 pm on Wednesday evening. For more information, contact Dennis Beemer at 630-319-1155.
Recent Initiatives
NCFST & Ripe Revival Easter Food Boxes giveaway to the first 50 families that registered
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) and Ripe Revival are helping to provide Easter dinner for 50 local families by giving each a free box of food.
Volunteer Recruitment
Established an online volunteer registration form to help recruit volunteers for the various programs.
Hope House
The Hope House feeds the community every Thursday. NCFST assists with picking up food from Raleigh and delivering/sorting at the HOPE House several times per month.
CROP Walk
Each year we support the efforts of the CROP Walk for Hunger
Past Initiatives
Food HUB
For approximately 2 years the NCFST operated a remote Food Hub to assist about 15 local food pantries. Weekly, we provided fresh produce, shelf stable goods and on occasion meat & dairy. This was possible through the CAFN ARPA funding program.
Weekend Meals Program
In partnership with the WCPSS lunch/breakfast drive by pick up, we have partnered with several local non-profits to assist with food bags/boxes of shelf stable non-perishable items.
Town of Wake Forest donated pickup truck
The Town donated a truck to help deliver food and help with gleaning efforts.
Rise Against Hunger
This event was a meal packing event at the Wake Forest Boys & Girls. They packed several thousand meals and helped to stock the Tri Area Ministry, as volunteers were asked to bring donations. There were about 200 volunteers from local community groups.
The Triangle Blessing Box has partnered with and is located at the Hope House
Our Mission at the Triangle Blessing Box, is to provide a 24/7 judgement free pantry, where community members are encouraged to take what they need and leave what they can. There is also a lockbox inside where people can write specific requests, and the Blessing Box team work to fill that need. The Blessing Box is also aimed at connecting neighbors on a more personal level to help bridge the gap in our community with those in need and those who want to help. The address for the Hope House is 334 North Allen Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Approved for the Alston-Massenburg to be a Family Summer Feeding Program
More details forthcoming regarding this partnership with Wake Forest Parks & Recreation Department, Olive Branch Baptist Church, the Northeast Community Coalition and others. For more information, contact Joy Shillingsburg.
Partnership with the Northeast Community Coalition (NECC), Wake Forest Parks & Recreation Department Cooking Classes at the Alston-Massenburg Center
EFNEP will be leading this cooking classes with capacity at 25 participants. There will be more classes in the future.
Feed the Community food distribution under the Pavilion at Alston-Massenburg Center
On March 16, Food Bank in Raleigh delivered 10-12,000 pounds of food and it was distributed to over 100 families. Stay tuned for more dates in the future.
Potato Drop at St. Catherine's of Siena
Hundreds of volunteers worked together to bag about 25,000 pounds of white potatoes. It was a partnership between local churches, food pantries, youth groups and military/vets - at the end of the event all waste and pallets were delivered to a local community garden.
Town donates laptop computers to local food pantries
One of the immediate needs identified in the CAFN Plan was for laptops at local food pantries. In response, the Town recently donated four (4) laptops to local food pantries.
Andrew Brown, Jr.
Community Outreach Manager
Chair of NCFST
919-435-9466
Ross Yeager
Northern Regional Center Director
919-562-6363
Sydney Klein
Food Security Program Manager
NC Cooperative Extension
Capital Area Food Network
919-250-3795
Valerie Massengill
Rolesville Food Security Team
919-210-3619
Kristen Stafford
Town of Rolesville Program Coordinator
919-554-5682
