Combining nonprofit forces during a time of shrinking resources seemed not just logical, but essential, especially for organizations fighting food insecurity.
That is exactly what happened in 2021, as the pandemic continued to rage, and two Charlotte, NC-based nonprofits, the Loaves & Fishes network of food pantries and Friendship Trays food delivery organizations, merged to create Nourish Up and enhance their impact in the Queen City.
According to most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture data, more than 47 million people face food insecurity, including 1.2 million in North Carolina. Today, Nourish Up provides nutritious food free to about 164,000 people annually in Mecklenburg County through its network of food pantries, where referred clients can shop for groceries up to 12 times per year, and its low-cost meal delivery service for homebound individuals.
While the merger provided many benefits, Tina Postel, CEO of Nourish Up, knew early on that with a larger combined staff of 50 people, eight offices and a warehouse that cost $30,000 in rent a month, Nourish Up needed to trim operating costs to funnel more assistance to residents lacking regular access to food.
Changing the food pantry model
A new building would allow the nonprofit to create something innovative: a "Hunger Hub" that would combine staff offices, a large commercial kitchen, an area for sorting food and a pantry for clients. In the spirit of further collaboration, Nourish Up also wanted to offer excess office and meeting space in the Hunger Hub to businesses, partner agencies and individuals in the county for their use and as a revenue stream.
The nonprofit was able to find a perfect location for its future — a warehouse in northwest Charlotte — and began moving in during spring 2024.
“This 90,000-square-foot facility is more than just a building; it’s a vibrant center of innovation and collaboration where our community comes together to fight food insecurity,” said Tina.
Funding a vision
Nourish Up launched a capital campaign to buy and fit out a warehouse that would serve these purposes, but Tina knew this ambitious vision would require more funding than private donations. That's when a consultant referred her to Broadstreet Impact Services, which had launched the Thriving Communities Fund with TD Community Development Corporation (TDCDC), a $35 million impact investment fund capitalized by TDCDC to support business investment, community facilities, and quality and accessible job creation in economically distressed communities.
TDCDC, a certified Community Development Entity and wholly owned subsidiary of TD Bank, provided $8 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) equity toward the Hunger Hub project through the Thriving Communities Fund.
“Thanks to the generous support of our funders like TD Bank and the transformative power of New Markets Tax Credits, Nourish Up has completed its $22.8 million Hunger Hub capital campaign — turning vision into reality,” Tina said.
“TD is incredibly excited to see the Hunger Hub and its expanded food distribution services and commercial kitchen come to life in Charlotte,” said Michael Cooper, President of TDCDC. “Our NMTC investment strategy supports a broad range of community facilities and helping reduce food insecurity is a critical impact objective for TDCDC.”
Feeding the future
With the new facility, Nourish Up plans to distribute groceries to approximately 200,000 neighbors every year. The organization also is building a commercial kitchen to produce 2,500 medically tailored meals for daily distribution to homebound clients and will add more than 20 permanent staff.
“With a new Meals on Wheels commercial kitchen, an onsite client-choice food pantry, and ten times the cold storage capacity, we are now equipped to serve our neighbors with fresh, nutritious meals and groceries at an unprecedented scale,” Tina said. “The Hunger Hub is a beacon of hope, ensuring that every person we serve has access not only to food, but to dignity, health and opportunity.”
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