Governor Josh Stein Highlights Hunger Relief During Volunteer Visit to Beach Food Pantry

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s recent visit to the Beach Food Pantry offered a powerful reminder of a truth our community knows well: hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation. On June 26, Governor Stein and key members of his senior staff spent the morning volunteering at our Kitty Hawk facility, working alongside our team to support programs that help families across Dare County. Their visit shed light on the ongoing challenges of food insecurity in the Outer Banks—and the crucial role local nonprofits like Beach Food Pantry play in meeting those needs.

Summer is often the hungriest season for children, particularly those who rely on school meals during the academic year. Governor Stein emphasized this reality as he packed snack bags for our Summer Food for Kids program, unloaded food deliveries, and helped stock pantry shelves. His message was clear: ensuring proper nutrition is essential for every child’s health, development, and opportunity to succeed.

A Hands-On Visit Focused on Community Needs

Accompanied by members of his leadership team, Governor Stein approached the visit not as a photo opportunity, but as a chance to work. The governor participated in the same tasks handled by volunteers six days a week—sorting donations, organizing supplies, and preparing the kid-friendly food bags that help bridge the summer meal gap.

Despite temperatures nearing 90 degrees, the team unloaded trucks and filled carts with fresh and shelf-stable food before helping to restock the pantry. These day-to-day operations form the backbone of Beach Food Pantry’s services, and the governor’s participation brought visibility to work that often happens quietly behind the scenes.

Shining a Light on Food Insecurity in the Outer Banks

During his visit, Governor Stein noted that hunger affects communities in every corner of the state—including vacation destinations like ours. He cited statewide statistics showing that one in seven adults and one in five children in North Carolina experiences food insecurity.

In Dare County, rising costs of living, limited public transportation, and seasonal employment patterns create unique challenges for local families. As Executive Director Elisabeth Silverthorne shared, Beach Food Pantry has already served 3,107 individuals so far this year—20% of whom are first-time clients. Many are working residents who earn too much to qualify for SNAP benefits but still struggle to make ends meet.

“What this food pantry does is fill the gap,” Governor Stein said. “It makes a real positive impact on the lives of the people who need it.”

How Local Support Powers Lasting Impact

Although Beach Food Pantry works closely with state and regional partners, we do not receive direct monetary support from government agencies. Our ability to provide nutritious groceries—including meat, dairy, fresh produce, and pantry staples—depends on individual donors, local businesses, civic organizations, faith groups, grants, and special events.

In 2024 alone, Beach Food Pantry purchased $306,000 worth of food through community-generated support. We also rely heavily on generous contributions from partners such as Food Lion, Publix, Harris Teeter, Fresh Market, Walmart, and Starbucks through Feeding America’s Retail Donation and FoodShare programs. These daily donations of close-dated perishables and unsaleable specialty items allow us to offer a diverse, fresh, and nutritionally balanced selection of foods for families in need.

Governor Stein’s visit helped spotlight the importance of this community-driven model. As he noted, smaller, localized food pantries like ours are essential, especially in areas where traditional food banks are geographically distant.

Meeting Families Where Their Needs Are Greatest

One of the key initiatives highlighted during the governor’s visit was the Summer Food for Kids program. Without school meals, many children face a significant nutritional gap during the summer months. By assembling snack bags and kid-friendly packs, volunteers and staff help ensure that local children have access to nutritious food even when school is out.

This program is just one example of how Beach Food Pantry adapts to changing needs in our community. Additional initiatives—such as our Friday perishables program, expanded fresh produce distribution, and ongoing facility upgrades—help us serve more families more efficiently. Volunteers remain essential to every aspect of our operations, from stocking shelves to assisting clients during appointments.

A Community-Wide Call to Action

Governor Stein emphasized that hunger is not an issue isolated to specific regions or populations. It touches every community, including those that appear outwardly prosperous. His visit brought compassion and visibility to the ongoing work of ending hunger in Dare County.

With demand continuing to rise and more first-time clients seeking support, Beach Food Pantry remains committed to partnering with residents, donors, volunteers, and businesses to ensure access to healthy, nutritious food for all who live or work in our region. Our mission—Fueling Hope. Ending Hunger.—is made possible because our community shows up, time and time again.

How You Can Help

As the governor’s visit demonstrated, collective action makes a tangible difference. Here are meaningful ways to support hunger relief efforts in the Outer Banks:

Volunteer your time to help stock shelves, sort donations, or assist families during appointments.
Donate funds or food to help us maintain a diverse and nutritious inventory.
Spread awareness about food insecurity and the resources available through Beach Food Pantry.
Support events and fundraisers, which help sustain programs during high-need seasons like summer and the holidays.

FAQ

Why did Governor Stein visit the Beach Food Pantry?

He visited to highlight food insecurity in Dare County, volunteer alongside staff and community members, and recognize the role local nonprofits play in hunger relief.

What tasks did the governor complete during his visit?

He packed items for the Summer Food for Kids program, unloaded food deliveries, stocked shelves, and joined volunteers in daily pantry operations.

How many people has the Beach Food Pantry served this year?

As of late June, 3,107 individuals have received services—20% of whom are new clients experiencing food insecurity for the first time.

Does Beach Food Pantry receive government funding?

No. The organization relies on donations from individuals, businesses, community groups, grants, and special events.

How can community members get involved?

Residents can support by volunteering, donating food or funds, attending events, or spreading awareness about local food insecurity.

Governor Stein’s visit reinforced what our volunteers, donors, and staff already believe: hunger is a community challenge that requires a community response. Beach Food Pantry is grateful for every person who steps forward to help fuel hope across the Outer Banks.