Feed Durham Launches Holiday Food Drives
The Durham nonprofit is seeking donations after reduced supply forced it to turn away families for the first time in six years.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Feed Durham is mobilizing the community through holiday food drives as donations decline. The organization turned away families in need for the first time in six years.
Why it matters
Feed Durham has provided meals and essential support to more than 250,000 residents since it formed in 2020, and it typically supports over 1,700 people each month. Reduced donations leave the organization struggling to keep pace with rising demand in the Durham area.
Feed Durham typically supports more than 1,700 people each month, but one of its largest suppliers reduced weekly produce deliveries of 60 cases to once a month. The article does not quantify how much the shortfall has reduced the organization's total food supply.
The players
Feed Durham
A Durham, N.C. nonprofit formed in 2020 that runs no-contact cookouts, grocery giveaways, and community gardens to feed local residents.
Cocoa Cinnamon
A Durham-based partner organization collaborating with Feed Durham on its holiday food drives.
Rissi Palmer
A musician partnering with Feed Durham on its holiday food drives in the Durham community.
The details
Feed Durham is collecting donations through food and supply drives over the coming weeks with partners including Cocoa Cinnamon, Durham Farmers Market, Black Farmers Market, ReCollective, and musician Rissi Palmer. The organization is seeking shelf-stable foods, hardy produce, unopened toys, and baby supplies, with donation times and locations listed on feeddurham.com.
Timeline
2020: Feed Durham is formed.
Six years before the article: Feed Durham had not previously turned away families in need.
Coming weeks: Holiday food and supply drives take place.
Philanthropy Pressure Point
Feed Durham was formed in 2020 during the pandemic-era surge in local food assistance demand, and its current donation shortfall marks the first time it has turned families away in six years. The strain highlights how charitable food networks built during that period now face declining supply as demand remains high.
Residents who want to help can donate shelf-stable foods, hardy produce, unopened toys, or baby supplies during the upcoming drives. Feed Durham's need for consistent donations means that even small contributions directly support the families it serves.
The takeaway
Reduced donations can quickly strain a food bank that serves thousands each month. Checking local drive schedules and donating consistently helps keep community food support available.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage to see how charitable giving shapes local communities.
More information
Find donation times and locations on the Feed Durham website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS17.
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Would you donate food or supplies to help local families this holiday season?
