EAT NC (formerly known as Durham FEAST)

EAT NC began as Durham FEAST in March 2020, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Durham Public Schools did not have the nutrition staff to continue serving meals to students, all of whom were staying at home during the early days of the pandemic. FIG, along with Durham Public Schools Foundation, Chef Andrea Reusing, Jim Keaten, Jim Key, 25 restaurants, and countless volunteers, pulled together to organize production, transportation, and distribution of 70,000 USDA-compliant meals to students each week. When DPS Nutrition was able to take over school meal production in Summer 2020, Durham FEAST pivoted to continue providing family meals, and some student meals, across Durham County.

In Fall 2020, Durham FEAST became EAT NC (made up of FIG+Andrea Reusing+Beyu Caffe) pivoted again to continue home delivered meals for the most vulnerable families impacted by the pandemic. Through ongoing customer service interactions spearheaded by FIG, the content of the meals was adjusted in January 2021 to reflect client needs, including a fresh ingredient kit curated by Lantern Restaurant that contained all the fresh, local ingredients necessary to make a rotating array of recipes (included in the meal kits).

Also in January 2021, EAT NC added senior meals to its production and distribution, providing at least three freshly-made-then-frozen meals per senior, alongside a bundle of fresh produce.

Throughout these efforts, local foods and businesses were centered in the work, especially businesses owned and operated by women and people of color, and those offering living wages. In total, more than 1.6 million meals were distributed in Durham County alone, more than $3 million federal funds were distributed to local food and restaurant businesses, and an estimated $400,000 was spent on local products for those meals.

EAT NC families and seniors continue to be served by the Beyu Food Project (which took over the meal delivery program in July 2021). For information about historical EAT NC programs, contact FIG. For information about ongoing senior and other meal delivery programs, contact The Beyu Food Project.