On Saturday, May 18th, supporters of the Durham Community Food Pantry, a program of Catholic Charities, gathered for an evening of festivities at “Nourish & Flourish: Celebrating 5 Years of Caring for Our Neighbors.” The intimate evening was dedicated to reflecting on the impact and success of the food pantry over the past five years. Lisa Perkins, Catholic Charities CEO, welcomed guests with a heartfelt message, highlighting the program’s remarkable achievements. “We have served over… Read More
The Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP), a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, plays a vital role in the community, distributing over 1.8 million pounds of food annually to neighbors in need. Through a Traditional Food Pantry model in Durham County and a Mobile Food Pantry model in Orange County, the DCFP serves as a lifeline for many struggling families. Recently, the DCFP became a TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) distribution… Read More
Staff and volunteers at the Durham Community Food Pantry take great pride in the volunteer cultivated garden located in the back of the pantry. Ask Suzan Perry, Master Gardner and DCFP volunteer, about the garden and watch her beaming smile as she talks about everything that is currently in season and almost ready to be harvested. Suzan started the garden three years ago with only a small, wild space, and a dream of providing the… Read More
Staff Spotlight: Sue Williams In the heart of Durham, North Carolina, Catholic Charities is making a significant impact on the lives of individuals and families in need. At the forefront of this regional office is Sue Williams, the Program Director of the Durham Community Food Pantry. Since joining Catholic Charities in December 2022, Sue has brought her passion, experience, and unwavering dedication to providing help and creating hope for the community. Before her role at… Read More
The Durham Bulls demonstrated their commitment to the community by partnering with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh. In a generous initiative, the Bulls pledged to donate a portion of every ticket sold through a dedicated Catholic Charities link to the organization’s Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP). On Friday, June 23, 2023, the Durham Bulls prepared to face off against the Syracuse Mets in a highly anticipated match. However, Mother Nature had different plans… Read More
Catholic Charities celebrated its 11th Annual Gala with flair and style Saturday, April 29, 2023. The Gala was held at the beautiful Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, which provided a perfect backdrop for the festivities. The record-breaking 350 attendees, including the greatest increase in new attendees in the history of the event, arrived in black-tie attire, ready for a night of celebration and fundraising. The atmosphere was electric, with a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation… Read More
With 70 years of combined experience in the food industry, Bob and Elaine Herrick regularly find creative ways to translate their knowledge into creative ways to support Durham Community Food Pantry operations. The couple moved from Buffalo, NY the day after Bob retired, with Elaine retiring only a few months earlier. They relocated to North Carolina to be closer to their son, daughter and two grandchildren who live in Carrboro and Durham. While volunteering, Bob… Read More
“Charity is putting our faith into practice; it is an expression of how we live our faith.” The 10th Annual Catholic Charities Gala was a resounding success! Hosted at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, there were 275 guests in attendance, with others joining the festivities online. To celebrate over a decade of Catholic Charities Galas, over $260,000 was raised. These funds will be used to support the Disaster, Immigration Legal, Family Advancement, and Food Pantry… Read More
Roberto and Elizabeth own and run Copa, a popular farm-to-table Cuban restaurant and living wage employer in Durham. Copa has been a key supporter of the Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP) and clients over the last two years. The husband-and-wife team began working with the DCFP at the beginning of the pandemic by participating in a program that provided hot meals to clients. The program was a partnership with the nonprofit Upstream Works Collaborative, and… Read More
Veronica Subinas moved to the United States from Argentina 14 years ago. After traveling through Europe for much of her life, Subinas eventually settled and called North Carolina her home. Due to her frequency in moving, she adopted volunteering as her career. Having lost her father at a young age and by caring for her mother, she was aware of how important it is to have people around you who are willing to help. When deciding… Read More
