Endowment To Support Feeding Avery Families Established At North Carolina Community Foundation

Feeding Avery Families, a nonprofit Christian organization located in Newland that works to eliminate hunger in Avery County, has a new endowment at the North Carolina Community Foundation that will provide ongoing support.

Feeding Avery Families was established in 2005. Their mission is to provide supplemental food and nutritional assistance to people facing hunger in Avery County and to contribute to their improved health, whenever possible.

Over the years, the organization has grown their capacity to be able to feed over 500 families monthly and gained hundreds of volunteers. During 2023, FAF provided $725,000 worth of free food to people experiencing hunger in Avery County. They also moved into a new 10,000-square-foot building (pictured) that expands their storage, allows the community to come in and pick their own food in a grocery store setting, and allows for additional programs.
FAF's new 10,000 square foot space

“This endowment will assist us in not only feeding more people but providing families with hygiene products and families with small children diapers and formula.” said Dr. Richard “Dick” Larson, Executive Director of FAF. “We would also like to get involved in community health and nutritional education by holding demonstration cooking classes for healthier meals.”

Agency endowment funds are established by a nonprofit organization to provide a reliable source of income to support its mission or operations. A charitable organization like FAF that establishes an endowment with NCCF directly benefits from inclusion in a large portfolio, with access to experienced investment managers and other endowment services. There are more than 200 agency endowments at NCCF.

The Avery Community Foundation is an affiliate of NCCF and was instrumental in helping to establish the Feeding Avery Families fund.

“Feeding Avery Families has won my heart; I’m compelled by their mission to address food insecurity,” said Jim Swinkola, an Avery Community Foundation board member. “Food is medicine to people – I’ve witnessed that in Avery County. Every nonprofit needs an endowment for the tough times.”

Those who would like to donate to the Feeding Avery Families endowment can visit nccommunityfoundation.org/FeedingAveryFamilies.

About the North Carolina Community Foundation
The North Carolina Community Foundation brings together generous people and connects them to causes and organizations they care about, with a focus on inspiring lasting and meaningful philanthropy in the state’s rural communities.

With $400 million in assets, NCCF sustains over 1,200 endowments and partners with donors and a network of affiliates in 60 counties to strengthen our state. By stewarding and growing donors’ gifts, NCCF makes a powerful impact through a robust grants and scholarships program, awarding over $270 million since 1988.

About Feeding Avery Families
For information about Feeding Avery Families, visit feedingaveryfamilies.org or call 828-783-8506. For further information about the endowment, contact NCCF Donor Engagement Officer Jeanne Dairaghi at (828) 618-6060 or jdairaghi@nccommunityfoundation.org.

Media contact
Hannah Hogewood, NCCF Marketing & Communications Manager
hhogewood@nccommunityfoundation.org; 919-256-6901

Endowment to support Feeding Avery Families established at North Carolina Community Foundation