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), a 501(c) (1) organization, 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.

Donate to NCFST

Wake Forest Cares

The Northern Community Food Security Team is a Wake Forest Cares initiative.

Donate to WF Cares

Upcoming Events

ALL BOXES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED - 2025 Easter Food Box Distribution – Register Now!

The partnership between NCFST & Ripe for Revival is honored to serve your community this Easter by providing free food boxes for distribution.

Distribution Details
Date: 4/17/25 (Thursday)
Location: Northern Regional Center
Time: 3:00–4:30 PM

Volunteers will welcome you, guide you through the drive-thru pickup line, and assist with loading your designated food box or bag.
Please note: Any boxes not picked up by 4:30 PM will be donated to Tri-Area Ministry.

Registration Required – One Box Per Family
Secure your Easter food box today by completing the request form here: 2025 Easter Food Box Request

Thank you for allowing NCFST & Ripe for Revival to support your family this Easter!

Community Connections Garden

Inviting all interested volunteers to the Community Connections Garden! Join us at the Wake Forest Baptist Church Community Connections Garden on Saturdays and Wednesday's during harvest season. 10:00 am. Please feel free to share it with anyone you think might be interested. We will share information regarding the construction of our garden pavilion. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact gene.cross@icloud.com.

NECC Community Garden & Gathering Space - Volunteer Sign-Up

Join us in making a difference at the NECC Community Garden & Gathering Space! We're inviting everyone to sign up and volunteer.

Volunteers are the heart of our community garden, located at 504 N. Taylor St. in the northeast. Your help is crucial in making this project a success. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a newcomer, we encourage you to bring your friends and neighbors to join in.

Feel free to share this with your friends and networks—everyone is welcome! All dates for the remainder of the year are available.

Visit the Northeast Community Coalition (NECC) website to learn more and sign up. The NECC Leadership Team consist of community residents and partners in the coalition. Please email

necccoalition@gmail.com for more information.

Volunteer Sign-Up

2025 NCFST Bi-Annual Meeting Dates

Thursday, March 20 – Noon-2 pm, Wake Forest Town Hall, Meeting Rooms A & B - (Meeting Notes & Agenda)
Tuesday, Aug. 19– 5:30-7:30 pm, Northern Regional Center, Room #163

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.

NCFST Mobile Market EXTENDED until December 2026!
2nd & 4th Thursday of each month (Rain or Shine) | 3-4:30 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 3-4:30 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. Donate to the Mobile Market

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.

Learn More

CROP Hunger Walk

CROP Hunger Walks are community-based fundraising events held across the United States to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization dedicated to transforming communities through just and sustainable solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. These events also have a local impact: after each CROP Hunger Walk, 25% of the funds raised are returned to the host community to support local hunger relief efforts. In Wake Forest, the beneficiaries of these funds are Tri-Area Ministry, Hope House, and Wake Forest Community Table.

This year marks the 46th anniversary of the Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk, scheduled for Sunday, September 28th. Details about registration, time, and location will be announced soon. Volunteers are needed to help plan this special event—if you’re interested in joining the committee, please email wakeforestcropwalk@gmail.com.

Our 2025 goal is ambitious but achievable: we aim to raise $20,000 and engage 200 walkers and volunteers. Last year, we had an incredible turnout with nearly 100 participants and raised just under $15,000. With your help, we can reach new heights this year!

Notably, in 2020 and 2021, Wake Forest earned a spot in the "Top 100 Cream of the Crop" rankings—a distinction we’re striving to achieve again. Let’s make 2025 our best year yet!

In the News

Western Wake Farmers Market (WWFM) Market Manager Summer Internship

Western Wake Farmers Market is located in Morrisville, NC. and operates at 101 Town Hall Dr, Morrisville, NC in the Indian Creek Trailhead Park. WWFM is open year-round: Saturdays 8am-12pm (April-November) & Saturdays 9:30am-12pm (December-March).
Position Opening: Market Manager Summer Internship
(Approx. May 12th- August 13th)
Apply online, or submit letter of interest, resume, and contact information for 3 references via email.
Application Deadline: Friday, April 11, 2025 (Applications and supporting material)

Eat Well Wake

The Eat Well Wake initiative aims to help patients at Wake County's Northern Regional Center clinic who experience food security issues and have chronic health conditions. The program provides patients and their families approximately 100lbs of healthy foods each month consisting of fresh produce, low fat dairy, lean proteins, and healthy shelf stable foods (i.e.: low sodium, reduced fat, no sugar added etc.). The desired outcome is to help participants better mitigate their chronic condition by providing the needed resources (both food and support) to make positive changes to their diet.

Update from our partner Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry

Donations Needed! Donations are gratefully accepted at the pantry during open hours: Mondays and Wednesdays and the second and third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Can't make it to the TAM office on Monday or Wednesday? Our partners in the community offer donation bins where we can accept your non-perishable food items. For alternative drop off locations, click here.

Ongoing Hurricane Relief & Support to Western NC

If your family was affected by Hurricane Helene or you'd like to offer support, please visit the NC Disaster Information Center.

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

Senior Hunger

Volunteer Opportunities

Recent Initiatives

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.

Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST)

Andrew Brown, Jr.

Community Outreach Manager

919-435-9466

NCFST Members

Ross Yeager
Northern Regional Center Director
919-562-6363

Sydney Mierop
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

Volunteer

Online registration form

Resources