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

 

WF CaresWake Forest Cares

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

Donate to WF Cares

 

Upcoming Events 

Community Connections Garden Kick Off Meeting

Inviting all interested volunteers to the Community Connections Garden Kickoff Brunch!

Join us at the Wake Forest Baptist Church Fellowship Hall on Saturday, March 1st, 2025, at 10:00 am. Drinks, paper plates, and utensils will be provided. Please bring a brunch item to share.

Please feel free to share it with anyone you think might be interested. We will not have a formal speaker; instead, we will have time to share information regarding the construction of our garden pavilion.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact [email protected].


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

[email protected] 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

  • 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)  |  3-5 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. 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 [email protected].

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

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.

"Angel Fund" help Wake  students to pay for school lunch

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.

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.

How Wake plans to feed hungry students and reduce school food waste with leftovers

BY T. KEUNG HUI  UPDATED 2/13/2025 The Wake County school system plans to partner with Toward Zero Waste to collect unopened packages of food from school meals to give to students and community members. TRAVIS LONG [email protected]

A new program aims to reduce food waste in Wake County schools by recovering leftovers that can be given later to hungry students and community members. The Wake County school system plans to partner with Toward Zero Waste to save unopened packages of prepackaged food and certain fruits that would normally be thrown away at eight elementary schools. The food would be given to families at the school and local food pantries. “I know it’s been a sore spot for a lot of parents and for teachers and principals how much food we’re throwing away,” Sam Hershey, the chair of the school board’s facilities committee said during a presentation Tuesday on the pilot program. “So the ability the capture some of that and provide it for students and staff if they need it is fantastic.” The exact start date for the pilot program hasn’t been set yet. But the goal is to begin it this school year.

Reducing the Amount of Wasted School Food

Toward Zero Waste is a Cary-based nonprofit group that says its goal is to reduce unnecessary waste. Its work includes collaborating with the Town of Cary on its food waste recycling drop-off program. Megan Holler, Toward Zero Waste’s Cary Community co-director, said people reached out to the group to ask if something could be done about all the food that was being thrown out at schools. A 2023 study found many unopened single-serving packages of vegetables and fruit were being thrown out by Wake students. A 2024 audit of lunch waste of Olds and Wiley elementary schools in Raleigh found that 20% to 35% of waste, by weight, was recoverable food, according to Holler. Holler said Wake’s 199 schools could produce thousands of pounds per month of saved and redistributed food. “A food recovery program in our district could have a significant impact not only on food waste reduction but on food insecurity,” Holler told the facilities committee. After studying programs in other states, Toward Zero Waste wants to start the SHARE program (Stop Hunger and Restore Earth). The group wants to pilot it in eight schools this semester and then potentially expand throughout the district.

Food for Students & Food Pantries

North Carolina food and health regulations prevent time and temperature-controlled foods such as milk and yogurt from being saved. But Holler said many items can be recovered, including:
▪ Packaged snacks such as graham crackers, cookies, pastries, muffins, cereal, granola bars and chips.

▪ Condiments and utensils such as packages of forks and spoons and packets of ketchup and hot sauce.

▪ Fresh fruit with non-edible peels such as bananas and uncut oranges.

▪ Cold foods such as cartons of fruit juice, sealed fruit cups such as diced peaches and apple sauce, hummus cups, Uncrustables and bags of fresh fruits or vegetables.

Holler said students would be able to donate or pick up recovered items from a collection cart in the cafeteria. There would also be a fridge and pantry cart where students could pick up food if they miss breakfast, don’t have classroom snacks, are hungry, are waiting for dismissal or are at after-school activities. Any leftover food at the end of the week could be given to local food pantries, Holler said.

Can Schools Staff the Program?

Under the pilot program, Toward Zero will provide schools with supplies such as a refrigerator, a rolling collection cart and a rolling pantry cart. Schools would be expected to provide people to supervise the collection cart and check if items are valid before taking them to the refrigerator and pantry cart. Someone would need to check the freshness of the food at the end of the week and clean the fridge. A school employee would need to be the program administrator at each site. The other duties could be done by a school employee or a volunteer, such as a PTA member. School cafeteria staff would not be asked to take on these additional duties. Holler said all eight schools want to be in the pilot program and take it on. School board members were generally supportive of the program but raised concerns about more work being potentially added on to school employees. ‘As wonderful and noble a program as it is, we have teachers that would do it as volunteers and would be tremendous advocates,” said school board chair Chris Heagarty. “But I want to make sure that it doesn’t fall on a teacher to do it when they have other student duties they need to do.” Superintendent Robert Taylor told the board that Child Nutrition Services is comfortable with starting the pilot. He said administrators will review the program’s final details before giving approval to start the pilot. “I support the pilot because it will give us the feedback on all of those that can potentially be the kinks if we decide to expand or how we decide to expand,” Taylor told the board.

Schools in the Pilot Program

The eight pilot schools are 

▪ Davis Drive Elementary in Cary

▪ Dillard Drive Elementary in Raleigh

▪ Kingswood Elementary in Cary

▪ Lincoln Heights Elementary in Fuquay-Varina

▪ Millbrook Elementary in Raleigh

▪ Poe Elementary in Raleigh

▪ Wake Forest Elementary

▪ Wiley Elementary in Raleigh

This story was originally published February 13, 2025 5:00 AM.

 

Other Initiatives 

NECC Community Garden & Gathering Space

GardenVolunteers 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

NCFST Truck

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.

LEARN MORE

Senior Hunger

These short videos were created to show the need to address senior hunger in our community.

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.

NCFST Volunteer Registration Form

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. 

 

Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST)
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

NCFST Partners