Dilworth Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry Launches 2025 Annual Food Drive Amid Rising Food Insecurity in Charlotte

Charlotte, NC – April 18, 2025

As food insecurity reaches unprecedented levels in Charlotte, the Dilworth Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry is stepping up to meet the growing need with the launch of its month-long 2025 Annual Food Drive, beginning May 1.

More than 15 percent of Charlotte residents are facing the difficult choice between buying groceries or paying rent. Inflation, surging food prices, and delays in food stamp approvals have made it harder than ever for families to access the nutrition they need. Meanwhile, proposed federal budget cuts to critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP threaten to make the situation even worse.

As a 100-percent volunteer-run nonprofit, the Dilworth Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry serves as a vital lifeline for our community. We provide 200 healthy lunches twice a week and also distribute groceries to help sustain our guests between meals. In addition, our pantry opens every first and third Wednesday by appointment, offering a dignified shopping experience where guests can select five days’ worth of food.

We’re calling on the community to support our mission by donating nutritious, non- perishable food items—including canned goods (proteins, fruits, vegetables, soups, pastas), cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, and shelf-stable milk. Pull-top cans are preferred, and we kindly ask donors to avoid glass containers or expired goods.

Monetary donations are also welcome at www.dilworthsoupkitchen.org. All contributions are tax-deductible and go directly toward helping our neighbors in need.

To learn more or get involved, please visit our website or follow us on Facebook @DilworthSoupKitchen to see the impact of your support in action. Together, we can fight hunger in Charlotte.

The non-profit Dilworth Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry provides hot, nutritious lunches and groceries every Monday and Friday from 11 a.m. to noon. The food pantry provides fresh food and non-perishables on the first and third Wednesday of each month to registered guests. Located at 1200 East Blvd., the Soup Kitchen has no paid staff and relies on the support of our volunteers, the community and local businesses and individuals.

DSK's Annual Appeal Notes Growth in Amount of Guests, Services

Subject: 2024 Annual Appeal Letter

Dear Amazing Friends and Community,

Thanks to your generous support of our 16-year-old mission, Dilworth Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry has been able to serve even more guests and expand our services during the past year. As we begin our 2024 Annual Campaign to fund the upcoming year, we are once again asking for your help.

Consider these facts:

• While home food prices have stabilized in 2024, costs have increased up to 30% overall since 2020.

• Over 137,000 people in Mecklenburg County currently lack access to adequate food and the current poverty level is 10.54% of all residents. As of mid-year 2,800, homeless residents are currently living in Charlotte.

• People facing food insecurity and hunger are often coping with other challenges such as staggering increases in monthly rent costs and the reduction of government SNAP subsidized programs.

• Low-income families are struggling to put food on the table and often must prioritize between paying rent or buying food for their family.

In 2024, DSK will serve over 21,000 freshly prepared nutritious meals and distribute more than 55,000 pounds

of non-perishable foods and 50,000 pounds of fresh produce and groceries twice weekly. We also offer a Fresh Food Friday Program that provides 50 bags of fresh groceries every Friday to our guests including milk, eggs, cheese, lean cooked chicken strips, fresh veggies and fresh fruits. We have added a Guest Grocery Shopping Service in our food pantry on Wednesdays and currently provide 40 families with 180 family members five days of fresh and nonperishable groceries once per month including frozen lean chicken, fish, and other lean proteins. They are grateful to be empowered to choose their own food and shop for healthy choices. (See article at https://www.dilworthsoupkitchen.org).

Our guests range from working poor families with children, to the homeless, to senior disabled residents living in Charlotte Housing Authority apartments in Charlotte. Each and every service we provide has been made possible by the generosity of our donors, community partners and an all-volunteer team that keeps our operation running week after week.

As a non-profit with no paid staff and no regular source of funding, we rely entirely on the support of friends and neighbors like you to meet the ever-increasing demand. All financial donations go directly toward purchasing fresh foods and non-perishable groceries for lunches and food pantry as well as take-out lunch supplies. Additionally, we recently incurred significant kitchen equipment replacement costs for a new commercial oven, an icemaker and a new freezer.

Since DSK is a tax-exempt charity 501(c)(3), all contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Your tax-deductible contribution can be made online at: http://www.dilworthsoupkitchen.org, and click on the DONATE tab. Or you can mail contributions to: Dilworth Soup Kitchen, 1200 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203

Our neighbors in need appreciate your support.

Gratefully yours,

Tom Fedell, Board Chairman

Board of Directors: Gary Klasen, Anne Gildea, Nelson Haynes, Rosemary Harris, Jimmy Flowers, Suzanne Sigman, Gregg Sumrow, Tanarge Clegg, Paul Finnen, Jolin McElroy, Jane Haynes

The Dilworth Soup Kitchen, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit organization. Your contribution is fully tax deductible. Dilworth Soup Kitchen, Inc. Tax#: 27- 2281930. Financial information about our organization and a copy of our license is available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at (919)814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the State.