In May of 2016, Weaver Foundation allocated $500,000 to be invested over a two-year period to address hunger in Guilford County. We partnered with several local nonprofits with expertise in this area and collectively began to identify existing gaps in our community around food insecurity and to seek out sustainable solutions to meet those needs. Our immediate focus has been Greater Greensboro within the Guilford County Schools (GCS) system.
Currently, we are collaborating with six pilot schools: Falkener Elementary, Foust Elementary, Hairston Middle, Hunter Elementary, Jones Elementary, and Welborn Middle in High Point. School staff and Food Project Coordinator, Emily McCollum, are working with the pilot schools and nonprofit partners to address the hunger needs inside their individual buildings.
The activities can include expanding existing programs or testing out new, innovative solutions. To date, we have invested $448,000 of the $500,000 originally allocated, with funds being distributed in the following way: $182,500 to community-based organizations, $150,000 to assist GCS in coordination and capacity, and $100,500 to assist individual schools in their work.