Iredell County Faith Communities and Partners Celebrate Reaching $10,000 Matching Goal to Support Local Food Banks 

Community-wide collaboration secures the full match and creates a new opportunity for neighbors across Iredell County to keep local pantry shelves stocked through the summer. 

STATESVILLE, N.C. — May 27, 2026 — A powerful collaboration of faith-based communities, philanthropic foundations, civic organizations, and local supporters across Iredell County has successfully come together to meet a $10,000 matching gift challenge to strengthen local food pantries. Coordinated through the IredellFood.org initiative and the United Way of Iredell County, this collective effort unlocked the full match and generated critical resources to help feed neighbors during the high-demand summer season. 

Summer traditionally presents the steepest challenge of the year for local food networks. When public schools close for the break, thousands of children across Statesville and Mooresville lose access to daily school-provided breakfasts and lunches. This shifts an immediate, significant financial and nutritional burden onto families already living on the financial edge—individuals categorized as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). As these working families turn to community food pantries to bridge the gap, pantry shelves are historically depleted at the exact moment seasonal corporate giving experiences an annual decline. 

The Real Impact: A Summer Story from the Front Lines 

“For families living check-to-check, June isn’t a season of vacation; it is a season of mathematical anxiety,” notes Tommy Simmons from Yokefellow Ministries, a local food bank partner. “Last week, a mother named Sarah visited our pantry. She works full-time in local retail, but with her two teenage children home for the summer, her monthly grocery bill will instantly spike by over $250. She told us that choosing between keeping the air conditioning running and filling the refrigerator felt like an impossible calculation. Because our community pooled these dollars, we will be able to provide Sarah with fresh produce, protein, and shelf-stable goods, keeping her family stable. That is what this challenge match is truly buying: breathing room and dignity for our neighbors.” 

Recognizing this critical seasonal need, the Ernest and Kathryn Troutman Foundation established a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge of up to $10,000. In an extraordinary display of unity, local faith communities and civic partners mobilized quickly, pooling their generosity to ensure every available matching dollar was secured. Through the shared infrastructure of IredellFood.org, this collaboration translated local compassion into immediate, county-wide impact. 

We Celebrate Our Collaborative Champions

  • Ernest and Kathryn Troutman Foundation
  • First Baptist Church of Statesville
  • First Baptist Church of Mooresville
  • Broad Street United Methodist Church
  • First Presbyterian Church in Statesville
  • Trinity Episcopal Church
  • Western Avenue Baptist Church
  • Rotary Club of Greater Statesville
  • Anonymous Individuals
  • Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. 

With the full $10,000 match now achieved, IredellFood.org is celebrating what is possible when the community comes together around a shared purpose. The campaign has already created a total $20,000 investment in local food relief efforts, and community giving remains an important opportunity to build on that momentum, extend support through the summer months, and help local agencies respond to rising need. 100% of funds raised will be used to purchase nutritious food. Through a unified, data-driven approach, IredellFood.org ensures resources are distributed efficiently across the county to agencies serving communities with the most urgent needs, including households below the poverty line and ALICE thresholds. 

 The Match Was Met — and the Opportunity to Give Continues 

The community met the $10,000 match, but the need continues. Every gift made now helps local food pantries respond to summer demand and creates another meaningful way for neighbors to support one another.
Secure online donations can be made at www.iredellfood.org