Thousands in Charlotte may soon lose food assistance. How you can help

Mecklenburg County is warning residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to prepare for possible delays in benefits if the ongoing federal government shutdown continues.

County spokesperson Betsy Abraham said federal officials notified the state Department of Health and Human Services that November SNAP payments “may be disrupted,” potentially affecting more than 143,000 local recipients — the largest number of any county in North Carolina, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

The county has begun alerting residents through its Food and Nutrition Services webpage and during assistance calls, though it does not yet know the exact impact, the Observer reported — but there are ways you can help.

Here’s a guide to food pantries in Charlotte, including when you can donate, what items they accept and ways you can volunteer to help.

Any others to include? Email us at news@charlotteobserver.com.

Care Ring Food Pantry

• Where: 1514 N. Graham Street, Charlotte, NC 28206
• Hours: Mondays 10:00 a.m.-noon
• What they accept: Non-perishable healthy staples like brown rice, quinoa, canned beans, nuts, seeds, whole grain cereals, canned fish, low-sodium canned vegetables, canned fruits, olive oil and cooking spray.
• How to volunteer: Volunteer opportunities include assisting with unloading food pantry deliveries, sorting, inspecting, and stocking nonperishable items and fresh produce. Register online.

Hearts and Hands Food Pantry

• Where: 4040 Chesapeake Dr., Charlotte, NC 28216
• Hours: Tuesdays 2-5:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday noon-3 p.m.
• What they accept: Needs include baby wipes, body wash, canned fruit, canned soup, cereal, coffee, dry beans, diapers, dog food, lotion, oatmeal, toothpaste and deodorant.
• How to volunteer: Volunteer opportunities include assisting with food distribution, pantry operations and home deliveries. Those interested in volunteering can apply here.

Hope Street Food Pantry

• Where: 4100 Johnston Oehler Road, Charlotte, NC 28269
• Hours: Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m and Thursdays 4-7 p.m.
• What they accept: Non-perishable food items such as canned beans, tuna, fruit, mac and cheese, oatmeal, rice, pasta, canned vegetables, pasta sauce and soup.
• How to volunteer: Volunteer opportunities include sorting and distributing food to clients. Register online.

Jamil Niner Student Pantry – UNC Charlotte

• Where: 1224 John Kirk Dr., Charlotte, NC 28262
• Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wednesdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• What they accept: Non-perishable food items such as canned goods, pasta, rice and snacks.
• How to volunteer: Volunteer opportunities include assisting with pantry operations and supporting students in need. UNC Charlotte students can sign up for volunteer shifts on the Niner Engage events page. Non-students can email ninerpantry@charlotte.edu for volunteer opportunities.

Reeder Memorial Baptist Church Food Pantry

• Where: 3725 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte, NC 28216
• Hours: Tuesdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-5:30 p.m.
• What they accept: Non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products.
• How to volunteer: Volunteer opportunities include assisting with pantry operations and supporting families in need. Those interested in volunteering can fill out an application here.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

• Where: 500-B Spratt St., Charlotte, NC 28206
• Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• What they accept: Donations of non-perishable food items, fresh produce and monetary contributions.
• How to volunteer: Volunteer opportunities include sorting and distributing food to clients. Register online.

Should I donate money or food?

While food donations are helpful, donating money to food banks can often make a bigger impact, because:

• Financial contributions let food banks leverage their buying power. According to Feeding America, they can purchase large volumes of food at wholesale prices and cover essential costs like transportation, storage, staffing and other things individual food donations can’t always help with.
• Money offers flexibility. In North Carolina, for example, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina reports that every dollar donated translates into “about 7 pounds of food.”
• Cash helps fill gaps that food drives often miss, such as fresh produce, proteins, and seasonal items, while avoiding the extra costs and logistics food banks face when sorting and storing donated goods. According to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, only 3.4% of surplus food in the state is donated, underscoring how vital financial support is.

Do you or a loved one need help?

Check out our story on where to get help, including food assistance hotlines, food pantries and nonprofit information for Mecklenburg County.

For mental health resources during these uncertain times, check out the News & Observer’s mental health resource guide, which features information about immediate help during a mental health crisis, as well as help for LGBTQ+ people, people of color, children and families, people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness.

The Charlotte Observer’s Mary Ramsey contributed to this story.

This story has been updated.

This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 4:05 PM.

Mary Ramsey

The Charlotte Observer

Mary Ramsey is the local government accountability reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she studied journalism at the University of South Carolina and has also worked in Phoenix, Arizona and Louisville, Kentucky. Support my work with a digital subscription

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.