A local food bank is calling on Durham businesses for some help.
Next month, Feed the Need in Durham will be launching its second Durham Region Business Food Drive Challenge.
The goal is to raise enough food during August for 36,000 meals.
That’s up from 15,000 just one year ago.
Food and money will be collected in-house at a number of organizations around the region, starting Aug. 1.
“People are trying to access emergency food banks and emergency food programs and not getting as much as they need,” said Ben Earle, executive director of Feed the Need in Durham.
“Our programs are meant to fill that gap for people, and when they can’t fill the gap, there’s not really anywhere else to turn. So when our shelves are depleted and our member agency shelves are depleted, the people who need it the most are still facing that gap.”
On average, Feed the Need in Durham distributes 100,000 pounds of food every month.