FIND FREE, HEALTHY MEALS FOR KIDS: Text FOOD to 877-877 to find the sites with meals for kids nearest you. There is also a new mapping tool for helping families find sites and sponsors plan for future service. Learn more.
2021 NC CHILD HUNGER LEADERS CONFERENCE: Recordings and highlights from this year’s day of celebration and inspiration. Learn more.
Based at the UNC CENTER FOR HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION (UNC HPDP), we use programming, applied research, and compelling communications to support policy, systems, and environmental changes to more readily connect people with the food they need. As the Carolina Hunger Initiative, we continue to build relationships with state agencies, school systems and community partners. Our new structure and identity allow us to pursue new projects, which will address child hunger from different approaches and promote healthy food access for all people in our state.
Why are we announcing this new initiative now? The Carolina Hunger Initiative is exploring innovative approaches to support our state’s food systems during the unprecedented COVID-19 emergency. Unusual times call for unusual responses. Launching at this pivotal time opens a new window to explore timely, creative approaches. We welcome and embrace ideas for the tough challenges we face now and tomorrow. Our goal is to incubate sustainable solutions for expanding equitable food access.
Our Work
COVID-19 Response
After Governor Roy Cooper announced NC schools would close due to the COVID-19 emergency, our team launched tools to provide resources for meal providers and to inform families in need where free, healthy meals for kids would be available.
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Child Nutrition Team at UNC HPDP
Working with school districts and community partners across the state, our goal is to end childhood hunger by increasing access to healthy food options served through the underutilized federally-assisted nutrition programs for kids.
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Blue Cross NC Child Hunger Impact Project
This three-year funding partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is awarding grants statewide to schools and community organizations that provide critical meals for kids who need them at breakfast, after school, and in the summer.
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