The Sheraton Towers Community Food Pantry & Nutrition Education Program will establish an on-site pantry serving approximately 98 low-income seniors and disabled residents facing food insecurity due to fixed incomes, rising costs, and mobility challenges. Throughout 2026, the program will provide consistent access to nutritious food alongside monthly cooking demonstrations and nutrition workshops that build practical skills in meal planning, budgeting, and managing chronic health conditions. By partnering with local food banks, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and volunteers, the project creates a collaborative support network that expands access to food and resources. The initiative also empowers residents through education, advocacy, and leadership opportunities while reducing transportation barriers and social isolation. Together, these efforts create a sustainable, replicable model that strengthens long-term food security and community resilience beyond the grant period.

Fresh Start Pantry addresses the urgent and interconnected challenges faced by women in crisis, including food insecurity, unemployment, trauma, and limited access to stable support systems. Serving primarily low- to fixed-income women—many of whom are single mothers, survivors of domestic violence, or navigating major life transitions—the program provides reliable access to nutritious food, hygiene items, and a safe, supportive environment. Beyond immediate relief, it offers nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and resource coaching to help participants build long-term skills in budgeting, meal planning, and healthy living. The program also strengthens community resilience by connecting participants to local resources and encouraging a “pay-it-forward” model of peer support and volunteerism. Focused on high-need areas in Greater High Point, Fresh Start Pantry promotes both immediate stability and sustainable pathways to independence.

This community garden project aims to improve access to fresh, organic produce while fostering environmental stewardship, skill-building, and social connection among diverse, multi-generational residents in a food desert. Through a structured four-phase timeline, the initiative combines infrastructure development with educational programming focused on gardening, nutrition, sustainability, and food sovereignty. Core values of empowerment, unity, and sustainability guide efforts such as inclusive workshops, a “Pay-What-You-Can” farm stand, and partnerships that support individuals with disabilities and local food pantries. The grant will fund essential infrastructure and systems that increase food production, create reliable distribution channels, and establish long-term resources like a seed bank and tool library. Ultimately, the garden will serve as a self-sustaining community hub that strengthens food security, promotes health and wellness, and builds lasting social and environmental resilience.

The Deacon Davis Farms garden project in the 27260 area of High Point, NC aims to create a shared growing space that increases access to fresh, nutritious food for residents facing food insecurity. Beginning in March 2026, the project will prepare land, install garden beds, and provide tools, training, and hands-on opportunities for community members to grow and harvest seasonal produce. Through workshops on nutrition, sustainable gardening, and food preservation, participants will gain practical skills that support long-term self-sufficiency while reducing grocery costs. The initiative also fosters community connection, leadership development, and awareness of healthy eating and local food systems. Beyond the grant period, the project will sustain impact by establishing permanent food access points, training local leaders, and creating a replicable model for other communities.

Building Broken Blocks will expand its cooking program for girls ages 12–19 by incorporating hands-on gardening through grow towers, teaching participants how to grow, prepare, and understand healthy food from start to finish. This initiative builds confidence, leadership, and practical life skills while increasing access to fresh produce for both program meals and a community food pantry. Serving primarily families in High Point’s 27260 zip code, the program addresses food insecurity, limited access to nutritious food, and the need for nutrition education. The project creates a sustainable model by reducing reliance on purchased food and establishing long-term resources like grow towers and pantry infrastructure. Ultimately, it strengthens food security and empowers youth and their families through education, shared experiences, and ongoing access to healthy food.

The Wild & Free Garden at The Arc of High Point supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by teaching pre-employment and independent living skills through hands-on gardening, food preparation, and sustainability practices. Participants engage in the full growing cycle—from planting seeds to harvesting, cooking, and sharing produce—while also learning about nutrition and food security. The program promotes community inclusion by inviting public participation and donating surplus produce to local families, food banks, and group homes. Grant funding will help maintain and expand accessible garden spaces, purchase supplies, and support educational activities such as canning and chicken care.

Growing High Point will act as a fiscal sponsor to support Southside Community Garden leader Johnny Horne and local gardeners in making much-needed infrastructure improvements. The garden’s existing wooden beds, many over a decade old, are deteriorating, and replacing them with 28 durable, accessible metal beds along with installing solar-powered drip irrigation will enhance sustainability and ease of use. Southside Community Garden has a strong 10+ year track record of success, providing residents with space to grow food, strengthen community ties, and support a more resilient local food system.

The Oakwood Community Day Center Pantry initiative will provide daily hot, ready-to-serve meals to individuals experiencing homelessness in High Point, ensuring consistent nourishment while restoring dignity. Launching this spring and operating year-round, the program will source fresh ingredients through partnerships with local farms, restaurants, and food recovery networks to create a sustainable food pipeline. In addition to meeting immediate needs, the initiative incorporates simple nutrition education and connects participants to health screenings, peer support, and housing resources to promote long-term stability. Serving individuals across ZIP codes 27260 and 27262—including those unsheltered, in emergency shelters, or experiencing housing instability, the program addresses a growing and fluid population. Overall, the initiative strengthens community collaboration, reduces hunger, and builds lasting systems that support resilience and well-being.

Phase 3 of the Garden to Table program expands community impact by teaching families how to prepare nutritious, affordable meals using the food they grow, building on prior engagement with over 600 families in Greater High Point and Greensboro. Through workshops aligned with the 7 Pillars of Wellness, participants gain hands-on experience in cooking, nutrition, and budget-friendly meal planning, helping reduce reliance on processed foods while increasing access to fresh, local ingredients. The program also introduces mushroom cultivation using low-cost, space-efficient methods, with a goal of training at least 150 families and supporting 75 households in implementing home growing systems. Targeting low- to moderate-income families, youth, and seniors in underserved zip codes, the initiative addresses food insecurity, limited access to healthy foods, and diet-related health challenges. Overall, the project strengthens long-term self-sufficiency, food security, and community resilience through practical education and shared learning experiences.

The “Age-Friendly Food Pantry” is a collaborative initiative between The Bridge and High Point University’s Senior Medication Care program designed to improve access to nutritious, condition-specific foods for older adults in the 27260-zip code. Pharmacy students and pharmacists apply their knowledge of medications and nutrition to create specialized pantry shelves and educational materials tailored to common chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney issues, and bone health. The program combines food access with personalized guidance, helping older adults understand how diet impacts their medications and overall health. Grant funding will support organization, accessibility, and transportation of food items, while ongoing donations and pharmacist oversight will sustain the pantry beyond the grant period. By addressing both food insecurity and limited healthcare access in a pharmacy and food desert, the initiative promotes better health outcomes and long-term support for vulnerable older adults.

A Simple Gesture serves as a vital link between food donors and local food pantries by collecting and distributing food through a network of partner organizations in Greater High Point. While the organization does not provide direct services, it ensures that food is handled safely, professionally, and consistently before reaching those in need. Its partners include numerous nonprofits, schools, and community organizations such as Open Door Ministries, West End Ministries, BackPack Beginnings, and Out of the Garden Project. The organization’s goal is to expand its network to ensure food access is available across all areas of High Point. By strengthening partnerships, A Simple Gesture helps increase food availability and supports a more efficient, community-wide response to food insecurity.

West End Ministries (WEM) works to combat food insecurity in High Point by providing a comprehensive food network that includes an on-site pantry, mobile food pantry, community meals, and a collaborative community garden project. Operating year-round, with peak mobile pantry activity from March to October and garden programming in the spring and summer, WEM focuses on increasing access to fresh, nutritious food while reducing cost and transportation barriers. Through partnerships like Village Life Cathedral’s Village Cares program, participants gain hands-on vocational and life skills through garden involvement, promoting independence and community engagement. WEM emphasizes unity, empowerment, and sustainability by offering wrap-around services and fostering a “pay it forward” model that encourages community members to become leaders and contributors

This project aims to enhance the educational impact of the High Point Public Library Teaching Garden while continuing to address food hardship in the community. By adding a new metal raised bed and a semi-permanent trellis system, the garden will demonstrate innovative and cost-effective growing methods that are more sustainable than traditional wooden beds. Scheduled for the 2026 Spring/Summer growing season, the project will support ongoing educational programs, tours, and community partnerships that promote access to fresh, locally grown food. The Teaching Garden donates all produce to local organizations such as Leslie’s House, the Salvation Army, and the YWCA Latino Center, helping meet the needs of vulnerable populations.

The Nourish Our Neighborhoods program will be implemented at Ferndale Middle School and T.W. Andrews High School, engaging students in hands-on learning through hydroponic growing systems. Students will take responsibility for plant care, monitor growth, and harvest produce while participating in nutrition education and sharing healthy recipes with their families. Throughout the academic year, the program combines food production, STEM learning, and discussions on food security to build practical skills and healthy habits. By increasing access to fresh produce and strengthening food literacy, it supports improved nutrition and long-term wellness for students and their communities.

The PoP Club empowers children ages 4–12 to make healthy food choices by providing hands-on nutrition education and access to fresh fruits and vegetables through engaging activities at the High Point Public Library’s Farmers Market. Children receive tokens to purchase their own produce, fostering both healthy eating habits and financial literacy skills such as budgeting and decision-making. The program also strengthens community connections by introducing families to local farmers and food systems while reducing barriers through its central location and accessible market schedule. Since its launch in 2022, participation has grown significantly—from 204 to 526 children—demonstrating increasing community impact, with many participants coming from food-insecure or low-income households. Overall, the PoP Club promotes long-term health, improves food access, and supports community well-being through education and engagement.

The Pathways to Achievement project creates a comprehensive learning environment that connects school and home by offering student leadership workshops, parent education seminars, and hands-on agricultural experiences. Implemented throughout the 2025–2026 academic year, the initiative expands from pilot workshops to a full-scale resource hub while promoting the core values of empowerment, unity, and sustainability. Through a school garden and partnerships with local organizations, the program improves food access, provides nutrition education, and equips families with skills in healthy cooking, budgeting, and resource navigation. Targeting predominantly low-income, minority families in a local food desert, the project addresses food insecurity, health disparities, and educational gaps. Designed for long-term impact, it establishes sustainable infrastructure and community partnerships that continue to benefit future generations.

Hopefulls, Inc.’s Weeknight Meal Program addresses food insecurity among elementary students by providing nutritious, prepackaged dinners that children can discreetly take home from school each night. With grant support, the program will expand to 12 schools during the 2026–2027 school year, serving 100 additional students and producing 16,000 more meals annually. By ensuring consistent access to healthy food, the program supports students’ academic success, reduces financial strain on families, and promotes awareness of reliable nutrition. The initiative strengthens community partnerships while building long-term capacity through investments like an industrial freezer to support increased meal storage and distribution. Serving food-insecure children across multiple High Point–area zip codes, the program creates a scalable, sustainable model to combat childhood hunger and improve overall well-being.

Out of the Garden Project will expand its Kids’ Kafe program by creating bilingual nutrition resources, including a Spanish-translated workbook and short multilingual recipe videos, to better serve families in High Point. Beginning in 2026, the initiative will also offer a school-based cooking class at Montlieu Academy of Technology, providing families with hands-on instruction, food boxes, and cooking tools. The program empowers children and caregivers with practical, culturally inclusive cooking skills while strengthening connections between schools and community partners. By focusing on education rather than one-time food distribution, the project builds long-term food security and self-sufficiency. Ultimately, these reusable resources will extend the program’s impact across the Greater High Point community, particularly among economically disadvantaged families.

Kin & Flo Farm is revitalizing ancestral land in High Point into an agricultural training and resource hub that empowers Black and Brown farmers through Afro and Indigenous ecological education while promoting food sovereignty and cultural preservation. From April to December 2026, the project will build key infrastructure, including a greenhouse and a restored tool-sharing shed, to expand year-round growing capacity, reduce costs, and improve access to essential farming resources. Through partnerships with local schools, churches, and regional farming networks, the farm will provide hands-on training, shared tools, and culturally relevant crops to support beginning farmers and underserved communities

Growing High Point (GHP) will serve as a fiscal sponsor to support infrastructure improvements at Burns Hill Community Garden, led by Bishop Kelvin Shouse of The Covenant Church. Planned upgrades include installing a fence to deter wildlife and enable vertical growing, as well as constructing an accessible raised garden bed using donated materials to better serve gardeners with mobility challenges. With new leadership and support from GHP, the garden is positioned to be revitalized and mobilize community members to grow fresh, ready-to-eat produce—such as berries—for the local homeless population.

The Julie McKnight Memorial Orchard will transform an underutilized lot into a productive, accessible green space that increases access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs while strengthening community connections. The project will improve a neighborhood pathway for safe use by pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals with mobility needs, while adding raised beds, fruit trees, seating, and signage to encourage shared use and ownership. Through collaboration with Growing High Point, Triad Health Project, and Dr. Henry Dorn OBGYN, the orchard will provide consistent food distribution and long-term sustainability with low-maintenance plantings. It will also serve as a hands-on learning site offering free or low-cost workshops on gardening, nutrition, and sustainable food practices.