Important Update on Government Funding for Food Assistance

Dear Friends of Common Heart,

We want to share an important and urgent update that affects the thousands of families who rely on our food pantries each month.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a major source of the nonperishable food items, meat, and produce that our pantry guests receive. Recently, federal funding for the program was cut by 50%. On April 22nd, we were informed that we would not receive any TEFAP for the remainder of the month. This news was a gut punch.

This sudden reduction comes at a time when our pantries continue to set record attendance numbers. Just this week, our evening pantry at Benton Heights Presbyterian Church served 163 families, an all time high. Overall, Common Heart serves approximately 8,000 people each month and TEFAP plays a vital role in making that possible. Watch WSOC-TV story. 

We know how much our neighbors rely on us – and on you. Together, we’ve built a community of care and compassion. So while this setback is serious, it’s not the end of the story. We remain committed to our mission of bridging the gap for families facing food insecurity. We are actively looking for other sources of food and support to help bridge this unexpected gap – but we can’t do it alone.

Thank you for being part of this small revolution of kindness. Together, we will keep showing up for our neighbors – especially when it matters most!

With gratitude,

The Common Heart Team