Community and Food Resources

Beginning March 17, 2020, and ending March 27, 2020, [all McDonald's Restaurants in Mecklenburg County] will be offering: Students 12 years old and under the choice of a FREE Plain Cheeseburger, Plain Hamburger, or 4-PC McNugget and a Small Fry. Monday-Friday between the hours of 11 AM-2 PM. With the current conditions in mind, they ask that parents utilize the Drive-Thru option to order these meals. Students must be present and parents will need to let the cashier know that they are a Charlotte-Mecklenburg County student. This offer will be valid at all of McDonald's Restaurants in Mecklenburg County.

Restaurants

The Loyalist Markets (Restaurants) – Free Student Lunch Programs – 11 am to 1 pm

Loyalist Market

Good Year House

True Craft Pizza

Noble Smoke

Nothing But Noodles

Common Market South End

Charlotte Country Club – Food for adults only. Contact Dr. Fahnie Shaw at 980-207-8089 for supports

Houses of Worship

United Methodist Church Food Distribution Sites- Grab and Go Distribution Sites

Provide food from 11 am – 1 pm

Simpson Gilespie UMC

North Davidson UMC

Nations Ford Church

The Exchange Church

Urban Promise Churches – East, West, and South Locations

City of Charlotte Civic Leaders Service Task Force Information:

NOBLE FOOD & PURSUITS MEAL EFFORT

Noble Food & Pursuits, the restaurant group behind Rooster’s Wood-Fired Grill, Noble Smoke, Bossy Beulah’s, Copain and The King’s Kitchen, has shifted its focus from “food” to “pursuits” in an increased effort to feed the underserved and homeless in Charlotte amid COVID-19. Donate at http://cltdc.org/.

SOUTH MECKLENBURG HIGH SCHOOL FOOD DRIVE

Drop donations off from 8 a.m. to noon. Pick up for pre-made meal bags is from noon to 2 p.m.

Location is Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church at 8801 Park Road, Charlotte.

FRIENDSHIP TRAYS

Friendship Trays Meals on Wheels of Charlotte-Mecklenburg is accepting donations of non-perishable food items at its Distribution Street office, as it refocuses deliveries during the pandemic on its most vulnerable recipients. This organization supports the elderly. Call 704-333-9229 for more details

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF METROLINA

The Food Bank on Spratt Street in Charlotte is working with its more than 800 partner agencies in 24 counties, including local school systems, to assess how it can best be of service.

Donate money at SecondHarvestMetrolina.org/coronavirus.

Volunteers also are needed. Register on the volunteer sign-up page at SecondHarvestMetrolina.org.

LOAVES & FISHES

Loaves & Fishes has an immediate need for volunteers to pack emergency food boxes at its Charlotte warehouse, located in Fordham Park at 648 Griffith Road. Various 2-hour volunteer shifts have been added throughout the day.

Register to volunteer at LoavesandFishes.volunteermatrix.com.

Loaves & Fishes also needs donated canned fruit — no sugar added or in juice — as well as canned tuna and canned chicken.

Food donations can be dropped off at the warehouse at 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and at Loves & Fishes food pantries throughout Mecklenburg County. See the list of the location at https://loavesandfishes.org/food-pantries/.

Monetary donations also are welcome on the Loaves & Fishes website or by texting HUNGERACTION to 44321.

CHRIST COMMUNITY FRIDAY FOOD COLLECTION

Christ Community Church, 16301 Old Statesville Road, Charlotte, will collect food donations for Caterpillar Ministries and Charlotte Rescue Mission 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday.

Both ministries need individual packets of both oatmeal and grits; peanut butter; jelly; boxed macaroni and cheese; canned chicken or tuna; dry milk; rice; cereal; sugar; spaghetti sauce, pasta; canned ravioli; bagged beans.

Drop off any of the items at Christ Community Church, and staff will distribute the food to the two ministry partners, Michael Byrd, pastor of assimilation and local outreach.

LEARNING HELP CENTERS OF CHARLOTTE

Learning Help Centers of Charlotte welcomes volunteers to prepare meals at its catering partner facility and/or deliver meals to children who are home-bound.

Individuals, families, and corporations are needed to donate food items to the families the organization serves in the South Boulevard corridor.

LHCC also encourages residents to contact the organization if they know of children in low-income apartment communities who are unable to pick up meals at South Boulevard area feeding centers. Email at info@lhcclt.org.

CHARLOTTE RESCUE MISSION

Instead of customers dining at the mission’s Community Matters Cafe, they are encouraged to order a meal for take-out or to purchase a gift card.

Instead of completely isolating mission residents from the community, the mission encourages the community to mail notes of hope and encouragement. Mail the notes to Charlotte Rescue Mission, PO Box 33000, Charlotte, NC 28233-3000.

For more ways to help the mission during the pandemic, visit its How to Help during COVID-19 page athttps://charlotterescuemission.org.

FEED NC

Feed NC, formerly known as the Mooresville Soup Kitchen, welcomes volunteers to deliver meals to people who are home-bound.

Individuals, families, and offices also are needed to donate specific toiletries for Blessing Bags given to FeedNC guests.

FeedNC also encourages residents to contact the organization if they know of people who are home-bound, isolated and in poverty who could use the free meal service.

Details: 704-660-9010; FeedNC.org.

Don't have internet at home for the kids?

Spectrum is offering free Wi-Fi and broadband access up to 100 Mbps to any household with K-12 and/or college students that doesn’t already have Spectrum. Installation fees will be waived for these households. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395.

2) Senior food options

Many local stores have started dedicating their first hour open to seniors so they can shop without being exposed to everyone else. (Or everyone else's nonsense.) A list of these stores includes:

· Dollar General - Preferred hours for seniors, daily, 8a until 9a

· Target - Wednesdays, open an hour early for elderly or others who have underlying health conditions.

· Walmart - Tuesdays, customers aged 60 or older, is open an hour early for seniors. It starts Tuesday, March 24, through April 28.

· Whole Food Market - Open to seniors age 70 and older 1 hour before the public each day. (That means the uptown Charlotte Whole Foods is open to seniors 70+ from 7a-8a before it opens to the general public at 8am.)

Here are a few options for seniors to pick up food

• Mar 20th -12:30 - 1:30 - Parker Heights Apartments: 1505 Parker Dr.

• Monday - Friday 12:00 - 1:00 - Christ Resurrection Church: 4527 Freedom Drive ( Senior citizens can be signed up for preference - on their website: christresurrectionchurch.org or call 704-398-3244 and a meal will be reserved)

3) Meals for a kids, especially lunch, are available from a few places in town.

· Various restaurants spearheaded by Loyalist Market. Here on the West Side, the locations where you can stop in and pick up a lunch for kids:

o Cuzzo's, 11a-3p, Tue-Fri. Kid must be present. 12 years or younger.

o Enderly Coffee, 11a-2p. Mon-Fri, for any child on free lunch program, child does not need to be present.

o Noble Smoke, 11a-2p, Mon-Fri, for any child on free lunch program, child does not need to be present.

· St Luke Missionary Baptist and Sacred Souls Community Church. Mon-Fri. 12p-2p. Child must be present.

· Food within Walls at Movement Center (2225 Freedom Dr). Grab and Go Lunch and Breakfast Items. 11a-1p. Kids not required to be present.

4) Simple Things You Can Do To Stay Healthy

1. Get plenty of sleep. When we're stressed, we need more sleep.

2. Drink extra water. It's allergy season and most of our sinuses are working overtime. Help them stay flushed by drinking plenty of water.

3. Enjoy the sunshine when you can. Sunshine and fresh air are beneficial for your immune system. If you have a backyard, use it to avoid contact with other people. Walking on the sidewalks is fine but remember to keep your distance from other people.