The Feed a Family First, Inc., a North Carolina nonprofit that began as a mission of First United Methodist Church, is providing food and several other needs for 40 families in the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District during the winter break. “Holidays and long weekends are especially challenging for many of our students and their families,” explained Superintendent Julie Thompson. “Some of our students are very dependent on the meals they receive at school, so when school is not in session, they struggle to have food.”
Nina Pinnicchia, Director of Child Nutrition, works closely with Community Outreach Liaisons at each school to identify the children in greatest need and advises the Feed a Family volunteers how to best help the families. “This is a great partnership,” Pinnicchia said, “because we know the students and their needs, and the Feed a Family volunteers supplement what we do at school with additional assistance during holidays and extended weekends.”
Steve Holiday, co-chair of Feed a Family, believes the volunteers actually benefit even more than the recipients of the nonprofit’s efforts. “We have always been a caring community, and it’s so rewarding to do what we can for people in need,” he said. “We feel so fortunate to be able to help in any way we can. The COLs know the students and their greatest needs, and through the generosity of people in our community, we are able to fund and deliver additional help to these families.” Feed a Family provided meals and other food to 55 families during the Thanksgiving holidays.
Contributions may be made by mailing checks to Feed a Family First, Inc., PO Box 844, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.