Our Work
Feed Fannin is an all volunteer organization working together to educate and encourage our community toward self-sufficiency while providing food for those in need.
Key Activities
Ada Street Farm is the location of our one-acre garden, where we grow approximately 10,000 pounds of fresh vegetables for the food pantry each year. Local residents in need of an emergency food source can find our produce, grown using organic methods, at the Family Connection Food Pantry in Fannin County. When available, we also provide fresh produce to our other partner organizations to reach as many people in need of nutritious food as we can.
Raised garden beds were built at Ada Street Farm to provide space for local residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables. When they have an abundance of crops, we encourage them to donate their excess to the food pantry.
Feed Fannin supports the food pantry by providing volunteers, produce, and nearly 100% of the funds for the ongoing purchase of food staples, milk, and eggs to feed the hungry in Fannin County and the Copper Basin.
In partnership with other local organizations, we provide information, education, and training to those who want to learn to be more self-sufficient in growing, preserving, and preparing their own food.
Each year we sponsor several fundraising events that provide the money needed to support our garden activities, food purchases for distribution through the food pantry and outreach programs, purchases of fresh produce year-round from local farm sources, and milk and eggs for the pantry and our community outreach partners. Join us at Bowls of Hope, our primary fundraising event held each spring!
With the support of our generous business community, we also have Feed Fannin donation jars at retail outlets in Blue Ridge, Morganton, and McCaysville. Thank you merchants for your ongoing support of Feed Fannin!
Our green donation boxes located at several supportive retail establishments in Blue Ridge encourage shoppers to donate dry and canned items, fruits, and vegetables for the Food Pantry. No fresh meats, frozen items or short shelf-life foods please. Feed Fannin volunteers take the donated items to the Food Pantry.
We support and help fund gardening programs in our area schools. By teaching kids how to garden, we help children early on to adopt a sustainability mindset and equip them with the know-how they need to grow food and experience the bounty of the earth.
178,155 Pounds
159,732 pounds of staples, canned and frozen foods purchased from regional food banks
4,162 pounds of non-perishable items collected in our Green Boxes and other direct food donations.
148,463 Meals
Additional Provisions
9,177 gallons of milk
1,313 holiday hams and turkeys
Additional nutritious items provided to Food Pantry clients and to community partners for families in need
Our Community
Feed Fannin is 100% run by our volunteers, which we refer to as our members. As Being a part of Feed Fannin means that members participate in a wide variety of activities to address hunger in Fannin County, ranging from working in the garden, serving on committees, volunteering at the Family Connection Food Pantry, participating in local events, and helping with school garden programs for kids.
What do our members LOVE about Feed Fannin?!
“Friendly volunteers to work with make it a wonderful experience.”
“Being a new member of the community, finding Feed Fannin was a blessing for many reasons. Everyone is so warm and inviting, a true pleasure to work alongside and there are many different ways to be involved with this group. You don’t have to have a green thumb! It’s been the best volunteer experience I’ve ever had, and I look forward to continuing to serve the community through Feed Fannin.”
“I have developed lasting friends and relationships from members while doing good work.”
“I like knowing that what I do provides food for those in need in our community.”
“Working side by side with such a dedicated group is awesome – all with such Big Hearts!”
“You make Feed Fannin what it is. From mowing the farm, to weeding the garden, helping with parking at an event, to sticking labels on seed packets, even to waving at the train as it passes–together as a team, we are Feed Fannin. Thank you for making an impact on me, on the people on the train, on the earth, and on the Fannin County Community.”
“Getting to know people and working together with the goal of increasing the quality of life for some in the community.”
“We have the opportunity to better the community by both providing food to those in need and education that supports local, sustainable agriculture.”
