Food Security Program
Information provided by Mecklenburg County Public Health indicates that 15% of Mecklenburg County households are food insecure.
Based on the most recent census information and poverty rates taken from the Census Reporter website, there are nearly 7,600 people among the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson potentially experiencing food insecurity.
Research indicates food insecurity is most prevalent among marginalized communities and most common in families with children which is further evidenced by the fact that 78% of those who visit our Community Table are people of color. Food insecurity negatively impacts all aspects of health and wellbeing and perpetuates a cycle of poverty in underserved communities.
A shared meal is the cornerstone of our society.
The nutrition derived is a necessity to thrive, but the shared aspect is equally important. It allows for the formation of meaningful relationships and creates a bond of trust. We believe once an individual’s food security needs are met, they have the bandwidth to move forward and pursue interventions that will enable them to reach their potential and end the cycle of food insecurity and poverty.
We meet the critical food security needs of approximately 2,000 marginalized individuals residing in North Mecklenburg County by providing access to weekday meals & fresh groceries.
Our Food Security Program Initiatives include:
Weekday Seated Meal Service
Restaurant-style, Seated Meal Service is offered at our Community Table each weekday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Marketplace Fresh Food
Guests who dine with us can shop our Marketplace for fresh food items to take home.
Emergency Pantry
Provide immediate assistance to families with urgent food needs.
Neighborhood Outreach
Eliminate barriers for food insecure individuals who are working, homebound, or lack transportation to our Community Table. Our Neighborhood Outreach includes maintaining an on-site emergency pantry for residents of the Deer Hill Apartments in Huntersville, providing meals for at-risk preschoolers attending the Cornelius Early Scholars program, and collaborations with the Neighborhood Care Center (NCC) and East Huntersville Community Outreach (EHCO) who deliver meals & groceries to residents of the Smithville (Cornelius) and Pottstown (Huntersville) neighborhoods each week.
Summer Bag Lunch Program
Provide bag lunches to students unable to access CMS summer feeding sites or our Community Table due to lack of transportation.
Our Mission
Angels & Sparrows empowers families to reach their potential and gain upward mobility by ensuring food security and providing access to essential educational opportunities through our Pathway Program’s 2Generation framework.
Our Vision
We envision a community where a child’s future is not determined by the household income in which they are raised. Each adult and child possess inherent potential and genius, and when given access to the tools and resources necessary, can experience a Fresh Start. We believe that our Food Security Programs, coupled with our Pathway Program’s evidence informed, nationally recognized Two- Generation framework equips economically challenged families with the foundational education courses, resources, and tools needed to end the cycle of food insecurity and poverty.
Our Values
Angels & Sparrows meets individuals where they are and offers an inclusive environment at its Community Table & Resource Center. Our Guiding Principles include:
- Dignity: Every individual we encounter is treated with dignity and respect.
- By Name Approach: Every individual has unique needs. We build a relationship of trust with each person who walks through our door to identify barriers and provide resources.
- Empower: We seek to equip individuals with access to food security, educational opportunities, tools, and resources to enable them to achieve their potential.
- Defy the Odds: We empower individuals to defy the dire statistics that would otherwise predetermine their future.
