North Carolina SNAP Outreach Partners

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina 

For more than 10 years, Second Harvest Food Bank's FNS Outreach team has been dedicated to assisting neighbors within its 18-county service area with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits application assistance. This area includes Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell (northern portion only), Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties. By providing expert guidance and support throughout the application process, FNS outreach coordinators empower community members to secure essential resources and improve food security. Learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank’s FNS/SNAP program by visiting https://www.secondharvestnwnc.org/find-help

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a nonprofit organization that has provided food in our 34-county service area for over 40 years. We are an affiliate member of Feeding America, ranking 15 among over 200 Feeding America Food Banks. In partnership with NC DHHS, our SNAP-Outreach goals include raising awareness of Food and Nutrition Services Program benefits, eligibility requirements and application procedures to potentially eligible low-income individuals residing in Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Davidson, Davie, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin, and Yancey counties.  Learn more about Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina by visiting https://foodbankcenc.org/

Benefits Data Trust

Benefits Data Trust (BDT) is a national nonprofit founded in 2005 helping individuals connect to assistance programs and working with government and other partners to modernize the public benefits system using data, technology, and policy. Since 2017, BDT has helped thousands of North Carolinians apply to FNS through the North Carolina Benefits Center. BDT partners with NCDHHS to reach out to people who are likely eligible for, but not yet enrolled in, FNS. What started as outreach to older adults has grown to include residents of all ages who are likely eligible for FNS.  North Carolinians who receive a letter or text message from BDT are invited to call the NC Benefits Center, a free, one-stop application center that offers FNS/SNAP application assistance over the phone. Trained BDT specialists screen callers for eligibility and submit applications on behalf of the individual and their entire household. BDT’s outreach includes special projects focused on supporting eligible veterans to connect to FNS and helping people learn about the Double Bucks program, which doubles the value of FNS benefits when used to buy fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets. BDT also supports NCDHHS’ work to notify FNS participants when it is time to recertify their eligibility.

For more information on Benefits Data Trust visit BDTrust.org.

MANNA Foodbank

The mission of MANNA Foodbank is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina (WNC). The goals of the Contractor SNAP outreach program are to increase public awareness regarding FNS eligibility and application procedures, provide direct FNS application assistance to potentially eligible households within the 16 counties of the MANNA service area through Helpline calls, and at COVID-safe partner sites including shelters and community meal sites and develop and distribute targeted FNS outreach materials and digital media campaigns to increase access to FNS outreach services. Our service are include Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey counties, and the Qualla Boundary.  Learn more about MANNA Foodbank by visiting https://www.mannafoodbank.org/

North Carolina State University- More in my Basket program [MIMB]

More In My Basket (MIMB) was developed as research-based program by faculty (Bird & McClelland, 2010) at North Carolina State University to provide outreach for the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Program/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The purpose of MIMB is to reduce food insecurity in North Carolina by providing education, outreach, and application assistance to adults that are likely eligible for SNAP/Food and Nutrition Services. MIMB outreach raises awareness of the nutrition benefits of the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program, eligibility rules and how to apply. Educational content increases awareness, corrects myths and misconceptions about FNS to enable potentially eligible individuals to make an informed decision to participate. Program informational activities and application completion support targets low-income individuals in English and Spanish languages.  While MIMB targets all likely-eligible adults statewide, efforts are made to prioritize outreach to groups with higher rates of food insecurity, such as older adults, families with children, Veterans and Military families, Hispanic, Native American, and African American families.  Learn more about MIMB by visiting https://www.morefood.org/using-snap/how-to-apply/

UNC Chapel Hill

The Carolina Hunger Initiative (CHI), based at the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at UNC Chapel Hill, provides SNAP Outreach to college students across the state. The CHI team also provides training and outreach activities to college faculty, staff, and administrators around supporting SNAP outreach efforts to students. One of the primary communication channels is a statewide website the team is developing and will manage to provide information about SNAP/FNS for NC college students. The team also shares information on SNAP/FNS for college students through social media, outreach events, and trainings. 

Urban League of Central Carolinas (ULCC)

The Urban League of Central Carolinas (ULCC) delivers several workforce training opportunities and provides supportive services to hundreds of Charlotte-area residents every year. ULCC is committed to empowering under resourced communities and changing the lives of people facing economic and employment disparities. Through research, it has been determined that five counties in the Urban League service area (Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Union, and Iredell) have large volumes of SNAP eligible households that are not participating in SNAP benefits. In partnership with NCDHHS, ULCC hopes to increase SNAP utilization across the state by five percent. The intent of the Urban League’s service delivery method is to remove barriers that hinder program participation and reduce the stigma around receiving SNAP benefits. Methods include identifying individuals facing the pressing issues of under employment, unemployment, food insecurity, and poverty to educate them about the benefits of having access to healthy nutritious foods. Utilizing outreach and community engagement efforts, cross-collaborations with local community partners, and providing supportive services will aid in raising awareness and participation in SNAP.  ULCC wants to raise awareness of SNAP benefits, eligibility requirements and application procedures to potentially eligible low-income individuals residing in Mecklenburg, Union, Lincoln, Gaston, and Iredell counties.  Learn more about ULCC by visiting https://www.urbanleaguecc.org/