OUR PROGRAMS

MOBILE MARKETS

Our monthly food markets bring fresh, accessible groceries directly to communities across Transylvania County, ensuring neighbors have consistent access to nourishing food close to home. Each week, our market rotates locations to meet people where they are — serving families at five locations around the county every Thursday. By hosting free and low-barrier food markets throughout the month, we help reduce food insecurity, support rural communities, and create reliable access points for healthy groceries across the county.

Former Go Grocery Location
📍 1232 Asheville Highway, Brevard
🗓 First Thursday of the month
⏰ 3:30–5:30 PM

Champion Park
📍 Main Street, Rosman
🗓 Second Thursday of the month
⏰ 2:30–4:00 PM

Public Servants Mobile Market
📍 Next to New Adventure Day Care on Gaston Street
🗓 Third Thursday of the month
⏰ 3:30–5:30 PM

Cedar Mountain Community Center
📍 10635 Greenville Highway
🗓 Third Thursday of the month
⏰ 2:30–4:00 PM

Quebec Community Center
📍 1846 Rosman Highway, Lake Toxaway
🗓 Fourth Thursday of the month
⏰ 2:30–4:00 PM

PANTRY

In addition to our mobile markets, the Hunger Coalition supports local food access through a Monthly Pantry Run, delivering essential groceries to trusted partner pantries throughout the community. Once a month, we supply seven local food pantries with fresh vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese, and a variety of shelf-stable canned goods. By strengthening these pantry partners, we help ensure consistent, dignified access to nutritious food for individuals, seniors, and families facing food insecurity across the region.

  • Silvermont Senior Center

  • Bethel Baptist Church

  • God’s Way

  • Community Baptist Church

  • Quebec Community Center

  • SAFE

  • Zion Baptist Church

MEAL KITS

The Hunger Coalition’s Free Plant-Based Meal Kit Program provides reliable, nutritious meals to families facing food insecurity in our community. Each Monday, we assemble and deliver 72 complete meal kits to local nonprofit after-school programs and crisis centers, ensuring families have everything needed to prepare a healthy, plant-based dinner for four. Each Thursday, 24 of the meals are brought to weekly distributions, along with sample portions so neighbors can try new, nourishing foods. By offering balanced, plant-forward meals made with care, this program supports both immediate food needs and long-term health for families across Transylvania County.

How the Meal Kit Program Works:

  • 🥕 Free, plant-based meal kits designed to feed a family of four

  • 📦 96 meal kits assembled weekly by volunteers at Mary C Jenkins Community Center

  • 🚚 72 kits are delivered to local nonprofit after-school programs for distribution

  • 🍽 24 additional meals provided at weekly distributions each Thursday

  • 🤝 Community-powered effort made possible by volunteers and partners

THE HEALING KITCHEN

The Healing Kitchen, sponsored by the Hunger Coalition of Transylvania County, is a community-centered wellness initiative led by dedicated local volunteers who care deeply about the health and well-being of neighbors across Transylvania County. This supportive program offers a six-week educational experience for 12–15 participants who are interested in a plant-based lifestyle or exploring dietary approaches that may support specific health concerns.

Through expert-led nutrition education, hands-on cooking instruction, and engaging community guest speakers, participants learn how to prepare nourishing plant-based meals and gain evidence-based knowledge they can confidently apply in everyday life. In addition to the core program, the Healing Kitchen hosts a monthly community potluck, open to all, where attendees bring a vegan, vegetarian, or plant-based dish along with a shared recipe—creating an easy, welcoming way to build a healthy recipe collection and connect with others on a similar wellness journey.

A place for learning, encouragement, and sustainable wellness—together.

Community Collaboration

When Hurricane Helene devastated our community, The Hunger Coalition, Sharing House, Bread of Life, and Meals on Wheels recognized that working together was far more effective than operating in isolation. Through monthly meetings, we coordinate resources and identify needs, always focusing on filling gaps rather than duplicating services. This collaboration has produced meaningful results: bi-annual Food Summits bring stakeholders together to share insights, summer produce markets increase access to fresh foods, and we're developing strategies to reach those with limited transportation, disabilities, and seniors with fresh, healthy food on a weekly basis. We're excited about this partnership and the opportunity it gives us to serve our neighbors in a more authentic, comprehensive way.

Bi - Annual Food Summit

Twice a year, in February and August, we gather at the Mary C. Jenkins Community Center for our Food Summit—a vital opportunity to hear directly from all stakeholders in our community's food security network. These summits bring together clients, volunteers, partner organizations, and community members to share experiences, identify challenges, and explore solutions. By creating space for honest conversation and diverse perspectives, we gain a clearer understanding of the real needs facing our neighbors and can work together to develop more effective, responsive approaches to food insecurity. The insights gathered at these summits directly shape our programs and collaborative efforts, ensuring that our work remains grounded in the voices and experiences of those we serve.

Summer Produce Market

From May through October, we host our Summer Produce Market, celebrating the abundance of our region's growing season and sharing the freshest local produce with our neighbors. Through gleaning partnerships, community gardens, and collaboration with other organizations, we gather seasonal fruits and vegetables at their peak and make them available to families facing food insecurity. This market not only provides access to nutritious, farm-fresh food but also strengthens the connection between our community's agricultural abundance and those who need it most, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the health benefits of locally grown produce during the harvest months.

Monthly Meetings

Each month, The Hunger Coalition, Sharing House, Bread of Life, and Meals on Wheels come together with a unified vision: to create a truly hunger-free Transylvania County. These regular meetings provide space for open dialogue where we share resources, exchange ideas, and strategize about how to best support both each other and the neighbors we serve. By pooling our collective knowledge and strengths, we're able to identify emerging needs, avoid service duplication, and ensure that every person facing food insecurity in our community has access to the help they need. This commitment to collaboration transforms how we work—moving us from four separate organizations to one coordinated effort focused on the wellbeing of our entire community.