Walk set for March 2 in Indian Trail; Registration now open
We got a message last week from “Susan,” who recently became caregiver for her elderly mother as she navigates many serious health issues. The medical debt has become “overwhelming” and once the bills are paid, there’s not much left to buy food.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, “Susan” and her Mom have been able to receive groceries from our pantries, including foods that support her mother’s heart-healthy dietary needs.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Susan said. “Knowing that we are both able to eat full meals again is such a relief. I was fine going without but my Mom can’t go hungry.”
You can help ensure that neighbors like “Susan” don’t go to bed hungry by participating in Common Heart’s 9th annual Hunger Walk fundraiser. The event will be held on Sunday, March 2 at Crooked Creek Park in Indian Trail. Registration is $35 for adults and $15 for children ages 12 and younger and includes a T-shirt. A family discount of $125 is available for households of 5 or more. Get all the details and register online: CommonHeartHungerWalk.org.
Participants are encouraged to collect donations from family and friends to help in the effort to feed families challenged by food insecurity. Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraising teams and individuals. Leashed dogs, wagons and strollers are welcome.
“The Common Heart Hunger Walk is a great chance to join in solidarity to raise awareness about hunger in our community and raise funds to support our food pantry programs,” Executive Director Keith Adams said. “We’d love to see people from all walks of life and all ages come and join in the fun. This is a great way to engage a group of people – whether from your work, church, organization, or family – to work together for a common cause.”
Common Heart is currently the largest food pantry network in Union County and offers delivery for neighbors who have special dietary needs, such as diabetes, heart care, kidney care, or gluten free. In 2024, Common Heart provided groceries to 17,486 neighbors an average of 5 times through 14 pantry outreaches.
According to Feeding America, it’s estimated that in Union County, over 25,000 adults and children are hungry or facing the threat of hunger. That’s about 10.5% of the residents of the county, which is an increase of about 3.5% (7,300 people) since 2023.
We’ve seen this increase firsthand at our pantries with a wave of first time attendees. A staggering 9,372 individuals representing 2,476 households came to one of our food pantries for the very first time this year! Of those individuals, 3,961 are children ages 17 and younger. 1 in 6 children in Union County live in homes facing food insecurity.
Common Heart’s food pantries are a lifeline for our hungry neighbors. Each month, about 6,500 individuals are served through 14 pantry programs.
The impact of your donation is great. A donation of just $35 to Common Heart provides a week’s worth of groceries for one local family with children facing food insecurity.
Business & church sponsorships for the Hunger Walk are also available. For more information about sponsorships, email Elizabeth.Carpenton@CommonHeart.org or call Elizabeth Carpenton at: 704- 815-4681.