On March 23rd, RSM, one of our esteemed SVP Corporate Partners, took a proactive step in addressing the prevalent issue of food insecurity by hosting a lunch and learn session in their Uptown Charlotte office. Attended by over 35 employees, the event aimed to deepen their understanding of local food insecurity challenges. Kristin Winkle Beck, SVP Charlotte’s Executive Director, moderated a panel featuring two prominent figures in the field: Tina Postel, CEO of Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, and Kim Aprill, Co-founder and Executive Director of Feeding Charlotte (an active SVP Investee). The panel provided valuable insights, dispelling myths surrounding food insecurity in our community.
Key Food Facts Discussed:
- 11% of Mecklenburg County residents receive Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, highlighting the significant need for support.
- North Carolina ranks among the top 10 states in the U.S. with a high number of people experiencing food insecurity.
- Approximately 40% of freshly prepared food is discarded, contributing to environmental issues and greenhouse gas emissions.
- In 2021, Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays fed enough local individuals to fill Bank of America Stadium.
- In 2022, their impact expanded to include Bank of America Stadium, Bojangles Coliseum, and the Spectrum Center.
- Q1 of 2023 indicates another record-breaking year in supporting hungry neighbors.
Both nonprofit organizations, Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays and Feeding Charlotte, are actively collaborating and innovating to broaden their impact and address the hunger gap. Tina Postel shared exciting news about their capital campaign to transform an abandoned warehouse in West Charlotte into the “Hunger Hub of Hope” later this year. This renovated 90,000 sq ft. facility will also serve as a collaborative space for other nonprofits fighting hunger, including Feeding Charlotte, offering expanded refrigeration space and office facilities for more effective collaborations in the fight against hunger.
Our heartfelt thanks to RSM for not only providing an educational platform on this critical issue but also for their generous donation of 31 leftover box lunches to Feeding Charlotte. These meals were promptly distributed to Hoskins Park Ministries, a transitional housing facility. This initiative highlights the collective impact we can achieve when businesses, nonprofits, and the community unite to combat hunger and minimize food waste. Together, we can make a difference. #SVPCharlotte #RSM #Feedingcharlotte #SEED20 #SVPInvestee
