Love Builds Up
A Family
Mission: To nourish our neighbors with food and compassion.
Population Served: At-risk individuals and families in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
History: Loaves & Fishes and Friendship Trays, founded by Virginia Sampson and Ann Elliot respectively, merged in 2021 to combat food insecurity in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Loaves & Fishes began in 1975, providing food from Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, while Friendship Trays started in 1976, delivering meals to elderly residents. Today, their combined efforts serve over 500 people daily, highlighting the dedication of these organizations and their founders in addressing hunger in the community. They now go by the name of Nourish Up.
Approach: Nourish Up is a network of emergency food pantries and the primary Meals on Wheels program in Mecklenburg County providing nutritionally balanced groceries for neighbors in need and healthy prepared meals for those unable to prepare or secure meals for themselves.
How Love Builds Up
Myers Park Presbyterian Church hosts food drives throughout the year to support Nourish Up. Nourish Up promotes opportunities to volunteer in their warehouse and serve as delivery drivers, in addition to maintaining a Friendship Trays ministry team that is responsible for one of the Meals on Wheels routes in Charlotte.
If you would like more information, please contact lay leader Dan Nunn. If you are interested in being part of a food pantry meal team, reach out to Anita Paris.
Drivers Needed – First Wednesday Home Delivery Team, 1st Wednesdays, 10a.m. – 12p.m., 200 W. Trade St – More drivers are needed on this MPPC team that supports Nourish Up’s Home Delivery program operated out of First Presbyterian Church. If you’re looking for a short time commitment with a big impact, please contact MPPC’s Team Leader Allyson Haenlein | Sign Up
Sort Frozen Meals and Deliver Them
Disciples may sort packaged and canned goods on Wednesdays once or twice a month at First Presbyterian Church (200 W. Trade St.) There is also an opportunity to pick up and deliver these goods on Wednesdays to residents. |Contact Theo Thompson for more information.