Food Bank launches new Outer Banks mobile pantries – OBX Today

Food Bank launches new Outer Banks mobile pantries - OBX Today
Food Bank of the Albemarle. [YMCA at the Pines photo]

Food Bank of the Albemarle has announced two new mobile food pantries to serve the growing need for hunger-relief services on the Outer Banks. The Food Bank is partnering with the Outer Banks Family YMCA and the Community Care Clinic of Dare to provide additional sources of food for Dare county neighbors.

“This is an opportunity to bring food and nutrition services to neighbors in places and spaces they already frequent,” said Justine Koksal, Director of Programs, Food Bank of the Albemarle.

“The Community Care Clinic is part of our ‘Farmacy’ program, which is a partnership between Food Bank of the Albemarle and healthcare organizations to connect patients with the healthy foods they need.”

The mobile food pantries are being launched as part of the Food Bank’s efforts to ensure that hunger-relief programs are accessible, equitable, and frequent for neighbors in need. Each of the new Outer Banks mobile food pantries will serve an estimated 75-100 households each month.

“We are excited to partner with the Food Bank of the Albemarle, bringing a mobile food pantry here to the Outer Banks Family YMCA,” said Jamie Koch, Executive Director, Outer Banks Family YMCA. “This partnership exemplifies our Y’s dedication to serving our community and positively impacting their health and well-being. With this initiative, we aim to provide nutritious food and pantry staples to help address the issue of food insecurity in our community.”

“The Community Care Clinic of Dare is excited to announce that we will be partnering with the Food Bank of the Albemarle to offer a twice monthly mobile food pantry,” said Susan Ippolito, Integrative Health Coach, Community Care Clinic of Dare. “Our food pantry will be an excellent addition to the services the clinic already offers to our community, which include medical care, a pharmacy and a soon to be opened dental clinic. Nutritious food is an important component of health and making food more available to our patients and the community at large supports the clinic’s health equity goals.”

The mobile food pantries will serve the residents of Dare County on the following days and times:

Community Care Clinic of Dare
425 Health Center Dr, Nags Head, NC 27959

1st and 3rd Monday of each month from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Outer Banks Family YMCA
3000 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head, NC 27959

4th Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon

For additional information on food distributions in Dare County, please visit the Food Bank’s website at www.afoodbank.org or call 252-335-4035.

About Food Bank of the Albemarle
The Mission of the Food Bank is to fight hunger and poverty in our 15 county service area in northeast North Carolina. We are a regional clearinghouse for the collection and distribution of food and grocery items to over 100 non-profit and faith-based organizations for 155 food programs, and to individuals needing assistance. For more information call (252) 335-4035 or visit www.afoodbank.org.