Feeding Charlotte is a hunger relief and food rescue organization dedicated to reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity throughout Mecklenburg County and the surrounding areas. The organization focuses on rescuing surplus, freshly prepared food from professional kitchens—such as those in restaurants, corporate cafeterias, and other large-scale food service operations. Rather than letting this food go to waste, Feeding Charlotte ensures it is safely delivered to established nonprofit feeding programs already working directly with people in need. These partner organizations have long-standing, trusted relationships within their communities, allowing the rescued food to reach those who need it most with dignity and efficiency.

Over the past 24 months, Feeding Charlotte has experienced an extraordinary increase in impact—growing by an impressive 2081%. This exponential growth demonstrates that the systems and partnerships the organization has built are not only working but thriving. Thousands more people are being served, and vast quantities of food are being diverted from landfills to dinner tables. However, while the reach and effectiveness of Feeding Charlotte have expanded dramatically, funding levels have not kept pace. This imbalance highlights a critical need for additional support to sustain and scale the organization’s efforts and maximize it's impact.

To help propel its mission forward and broaden public engagement, Feeding Charlotte is working to build up its marketing and outreach efforts. The organization is beginning to find its unique voice and recognizes the need for compelling, printed materials to raise awareness, attract new supporters, and deepen its impact across the Charlotte region. With the right promotional tools, Feeding Charlotte can educate the public, recruit volunteers, and secure additional funding to continue our missions growth.

One of the most exciting developments over the past 12 months has been the establishment of strategic partnerships with the largest stadiums and event venues in Charlotte. Feeding Charlotte has signed agreements to rescue surplus food after every event held at these venues. This is a significant expansion of the organization’s food rescue operations. By tapping into the large volume of high-quality prepared food generated during sports games, concerts, and other large events, Feeding Charlotte can capture even more food that would otherwise go to waste. These new partnerships not only boost the organization’s food supply but also raise its visibility in the community.

In addition to operational growth, Feeding Charlotte made a major leap forward in organizational development in 2025 through a cohort with Deloitte. Working closely with Deloitte team members, Feeding Charlotte developed a rubric, questionnaire, and internal rating system to assess the nonprofit feeding programs it partners with. This tool was designed to differentiate between organizations that focus on long-term, transformational impact and those that are primarily providing transactional food handouts. As part of this initiative, Feeding Charlotte audited all 63 of its partner organizations and held in-depth conversations with their teams. This process allowed the organization to better understand where to focus its resources moving forward.

These advancements—in partnerships, evaluation, and impact—are reshaping what Feeding Charlotte is capable of achieving. A grant to support the printing of outreach materials would allow the organization to tell its story more effectively, share recent successes, and inspire more people to join the movement. With the right support, Feeding Charlotte is well-positioned to deepen its impact and continue leading the fight against hunger and food waste in the Charlotte area.