Ingredients to End Hunger

At the Wilmington branch of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, nourishing the community means more than filling plates, it means building futures.

On any given day, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s Wilmington location hums with activity. In the grocery area, neighbors shop for much-needed food. In the back, trucks unload and staff sort donations. In the kitchen, the sounds of chopping and conversation fill the air as students learn skills that could change the course of their careers.

It may look like organized chaos, but it’s something more intentional: a community in motion.

“People think a food bank is just about handing out food,” says Kenneth Pohlman, chef at the Food Bank. “But we want to help elevate people.”

That philosophy shapes everything the Food Bank does. Beyond providing meals for those facing food insecurity, the nonprofit has expanded its mission to include education, workforce development and long-term wellness.

At the Wilmington site, initiatives such as senior food boxes, disaster response and benefits navigation address the diverse needs of the region.

Most recently, the Food Bank joined Cape Fear Community College to host a culinary training program designed to help entry-level cooks move into roles in restaurants and food service.

“We have 12 people in the class,” Pohlman says. “It’s a 10-week program, and once they complete it, they have the skills to advance in their chosen career.”

For Pohlman, education is a natural extension of the Food Bank’s mission. Teaching people how to cook nutritious meals — and how to build careers around food — creates lasting impact.

“There are so many people in need,” he says. “We have this incredible space to help them, but we also need programs that teach better diets, better food quality and healthier meal options.”

The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina has six locations serving 34 counties across eastern North Carolina. The Wilmington site is the nCino, Inc. Hunger Solutions Center, a modern, state-of-the-art facility that opened on Greenfield Street in 2023.

The Wilmington location serves as a hub for soup kitchens and partner organizations across five counties (New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin and Pender), supplying ingredients and prepared food to agencies throughout the region.

The operation is truly collaborative. More than 80 partner organizations distribute food to local families that is sourced, sorted and shared by the Food Bank. In the commercial kitchen, Pohlman and his team cook meals in carefully measured portions, ensuring consistency and quality for partner agencies.

At the front of the building is the No-Cost Market, where individuals and families can shop for groceries with dignity. The market is open five days a week, with morning, afternoon and weekend options to ensure access.

Over time, Pohlman has come to know many of the regular shoppers, especially seniors living on fixed incomes. He sees the challenges they face firsthand.

“Many can’t get to a grocery store easily, and even if they do, they can’t carry heavy bags,” he says. “So they end up buying lightweight, unhealthy snack foods.”

The Food Bank works to counter that reality by offering healthier prepared meals along with fresh fruits and vegetables. Plans are also underway to build a greenhouse on-site within the next year, allowing even more fresh produce to be grown and used directly at the facility.

For Pohlman, who previously worked in fine dining in Charleston, his role at the Food Bank is deeply fulfilling.

“It’s a chef’s dream,” he says. “I ask myself every day, ‘What good can you do today?’ That’s the mindset here. We can do a lot of good today to help others.”

GETTING TO THE ROOT OF HUNGER
Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
nCino Hunger Solutions Center
1000 Greenfield Street, Wilmington
(910) 251-1465
To volunteer or visit the site for food, go to: foodbankcenc.org/locations/Wilmington
To donate, go to foodbankcenc.org.