Gift will support nutrition in three regional food pantries
CHARLOTTE — Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Walmart State Giving Program for its WellnessWorks program. The grant funds will be used across Catholic Charities’ three regional food pantries in Charlotte, Asheville and Winston-Salem to provide people in need with fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins, dairy and items that qualify as low sodium or no added sugar. The agency will also provide nutritional guidance and information services to clients, assisting them with dietary needs. More than 13,000 people will be served through this grant.
The grant award was presented to Sharon Davis, Catholic Charities’ social work and program assurance director.
“For families struggling to keep food on the table, it’s hard to have enough nutritious food,” Davis said. “With this grant, we are able to increase our inventory of nutritionally sound foods so that our clients will be able to improve their diet.”
WellnessWorks is Catholic Charities’ program that is nutrition focused by providing healthy food and opportunities for clients to receive nutrition education and materials to enable them to make changes in their diet, shopping habits and food preparation.
“Many clients tell us that they often eat unhealthy food, but that they have no other viable options. WellnessWorks acts to change this,” Davis noted.
The mission of the Walmart Foundation is to create opportunities so people can live better, enriched lives. The foundation aims to positively impact the communities in which they serve, through grants and volunteer opportunities, to meet the needs of the under-served by directing charitable giving toward the core areas of focus: opportunity, sustainability and community.
“We are thankful for this funding from the Walmart Foundation and their partnership with us to serve our community,” Davis said.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte serves the poor and vulnerable regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. The agency provides a variety of services: adoption and pregnancy support, counseling, family outreach, refugee resettlement, immigration services, food pantries, economic development, disaster relief, respect life, social concerns education and advocacy.
— Kathleen Durkin, Communications Specialist