The Hunger & Health Coalition is a non profit organization dedicated to assisting low income families in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties in northwest North Carolina. We are a resource for individuals and families within our community that are struggling to provide themselves with basic needs.
Services:
•Healthy Start-Provides nutritious, kid friendly foods on a weekly basis to Head Start participants in Watauga county. Participation in the Head Start program is required.
•Snacks for Scholars-Provides nutritious snack foods to school age children. Participation in any HHC Food Assistance program required.
•Backpack Program-Provides healthy food to children to take home during weekends and other times away from school. Eligibility for the BackPack program is determined by the partner school.
•Prescription Assistance Program-Link clients with patient assistance programs offered through pharmaceutical companies for long term prescription needs. Eligibility is income based and varies by program.
•Helping Hands Wood Lot-In partnership with Grace Lutheran Church, the Helping Hands Wood Lot provides firewood for heating and cooking. Participation in HHC programs or a referral from a Community Partner required.
•Community Thanksgiving Dinner-Volunteers and local business come together to provide a traditional turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Anyone in the community is invited to attend
•Sharing Tree & Senior Sharing Tree-Provides food and gifts to client families with children under age 17 or seniors over age 65. Community member “adopt” families in need and deliver gift items to the home of the “adopted” family.
Ask us about our wonderful programs by calling us at 828-262-1628 or email us.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- home fuels
- toys & gifts
- prescription assistance
- navigating the system
- meals
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (828) 262-1628 to book your appointment.
Address :
141 Health Center Dr, SUITE C,
Boone, NC 28607.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Tues: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Wed: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Thurs: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Fri: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Ashe
- Avery
- Watauga
Appointments
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7.
For the full set of services, you can call (828) 262-1628 to book your appointment. Staff can also answer any questions you may have.
Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry
Show up early.
This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.
You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.
Remember all documentation.
Many food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.
This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.
It's just your photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.
Use several food banks.
Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.
For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.
Eligible for other programs?
Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.
They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women and Infant Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Ask about extras.
If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.
Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.
Go on different days of the week.
Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.
Be polite to workers.
Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?
Specifically, food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to food pantry?
At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. You do not need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry provides three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.
5. How does a food pantry work?
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.