In an effort to make food assistance more accessible to families in need, Catholic Parish outreach Food Pantry (CPO), a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh has launched its first-ever mobile food pantry. The inaugural event took place on February 11, 2025, at Kingsborough Estates, where CPO, in partnership with St. Joseph Catholic Church and Centro para Familias Hispanas, served 100 families despite the rainy weather.
This mobile food pantry builds on similar efforts which have been underway in other Catholic Charities regions including the Cape Fear, Fayetteville, and Tar River regions. The event was made possible through a grant from Wake County and is focused on serving communities experiencing food insecurity and facing transportation barriers. By bringing food directly to neighborhoods, CPO is creating greater opportunities for families to access healthy groceries.
“This initiative is about building relationships within the community and reaching families who might otherwise struggle to access our services,” said Kelly Rappl, Program Director for CPO.
Families received fresh produce, meat, dairy, and dry goods during the distribution. The mobile pantry aims to serve the community on the second Tuesday of every month. To ensure families are informed, notifications will be sent out via WhatsApp, social media, and local signage.
Fr. Peter, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, expressed the parish’s enthusiasm for the partnership. “The Diocese of Raleigh has knocked on our doors to see if we can assist them with distributing fresh food to families. It has been a great joy for us to help. ‘Boots on the ground’ is what we tried to exhibit. Thanks to Jesus for showing us how!”
The long-term vision for the mobile pantry includes expanding to additional sites and increasing volunteer involvement from local parishes and community partners. Rappl shared appreciation for Cardinal Gibbons High School, a community partner already part of the initiative, for their understanding of the importance of community support in sustaining the program.
“We were thrilled to be able to do this,” Rappl added. “CPO has served families over 45 years and we’re excited to grow in this way and overcome transportation barriers.
The success of the first distribution marks a strong start for the mobile food pantry, reinforcing the commitment of Catholic Charities to addressing food insecurity and accessibility in meaningful ways.