The following message is from Tom Fedell, chairman of the Dilworth Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry
Hunger in Mecklenburg County is rising. Today, nearly one in seven households is food insecure, lacking reliable access to enough nutritious food. That means thousands of families in our community are facing painful decisions about which basic needs they can afford each month. Significant increases in monthly rent, energy costs, and grocery prices, along with reductions in SNAP benefits and uncertainty surrounding federal nutrition programs, have made reliable assistance less predictable. These setbacks can quickly push households into crisis, and more of our neighbors are turning to us for help.
At Dilworth Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry, we see this need every week. We serve 200 healthy lunches twice weekly and provide groceries to help families sustain themselves between visits. Our pantry is also open the first and third Wednesday of every month, allowing registered guests to shop for five days of food. As demand continues to grow, our shelves are emptying faster than we can restock them.
In May, we are launching our 2026 Annual Food Drive to collect nutritious non-perishable items. Your support is essential, and every donation — large or small — makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Below is a list of most needed items:
PROTEIN & MEALS: Canned meats (tuna, chicken, turkey, salmon, ham, roast beef, Vienna sausage), beef stew, chili, canned spaghetti, ravioli, hearty soups, spaghetti sauce, beef jerky, peanut butter
GRAINS & PASTA: Pasta, macaroni & cheese, rice & individual sticky rice, ramen noodles, grits, stuffing mix, instant potatoes, whole grains, crackers
FRUITS & VEGETABLES: Canned fruits & vegetables, beans, applesauce, sweet potatoes
BREAKFAST & PANTRY: Cereal, oatmeal, breakfast & protein bars, pancake mix, syrup, corn or biscuit mix, cooking oil, jelly
DRINKS: Powdered or shelf-stable milk & juices, almond or oat milk (dairy-free), coffee & tea (bags or instant)
NOTE: Pull-top cans are preferred. We cannot accept food items in glass containers, unsealed, unlabeled, or expired. Please limit sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks or candy.
Dilworth Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry is a nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers—no paid staff. We depend on the generosity of our community and all contributions are tax-deductible. If you’d prefer to make a monetary donation, please visit our website at www.dilworthsoupkitchen.org to learn more or scan the QR Code included with this letter.
If you or an organization that you’re part of would like to host a food drive, collection boxes and a complete list of needed items are available upon request. Please contact Gary Klasen at garyklasen@yahoo.com for more details.
Thank you for helping us ensure that no neighbor in our community goes hungry.
Drop-off Information: Food donations can be delivered every Monday and Friday during the month of May from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. or on Wednesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 20. Drop-off location: First Christian Church, 1200 East Blvd. (double side door entrance on Dilworth Rd. East). Please contact us if these days and times do not work for you and we will make special arrangements.