Beach Food Pantry Inc

“The form 990 is sent to all board members for their independent review, and then reviewed and discussed at either a regularly scheduled monthly board meeting, or a special meeting, depending on time constraints for submission of the form 990.”

“All board members sign an acceptance of the conflict of interest policy annually. It is each signator's obligation to disclose any potential conflict as soon as it is known, or reasonably should be known.”

“The executive director's compensation is determined by the board and reviewed annually.”

“The organization's governing documents are available to the public upon request.”

“Volunteers assist in many ways. They prepare the pantry for distribution; assist clients during food distributions; pick up retail donations; provide translation services; shop because close to 50% of our food must be purchased; pack online orders; deliver summer food for kids orders, assist in the garden; process recycling, etc. In addition, volunteers provide administrative and event assistance.”

“In 2024, beach food pantry used 10 different distribution methods to ensure that no one in dare county had to worry about where their next meal would come from. Together, these programs served thousands of neighbors facing crisis or emergency situations - and gave them hope. We distributed almost 500,000 lbs of food, the equivalent of 416,667 total meals. 1. Client-choice, myplate-aligned pantry our flagship program in kitty hawk provides two weeks of free groceries based on family size. Guests "shop" for the foods that work best for their households, encouraging dignity and choice. Open hours: monday-friday, 2-4 pm (except major holidays) 2024 impact: served 5,699 individuals (from 2,881 households). 2. Online ordering for neighbors who can't come during pantry hours - due to work schedules or childcare needs, or for those with limited storage space - we offer online ordering with flexible pick up, monday-friday, 8 am -5 pm. 3. Mobile pantry special events transportation can be a major barrier, so we bring food to areas of highest need. In 2024, we continued monthly produce-focused events at the manteo public library from january-may, serving over 100 households each month. 4. Mass text distribution events when we have extra food, we alert clients via mass text so nothing goes to waste. These smaller distributions don't count toward their annual visit limit - just one more way we stretch resources and help neighbors. 5. Summer food for kids when school is out, families face higher grocery costs and fewer meal options. Our 16-week program provided weekly groceries - including eggs, dairy, meats, and fresh produce - with pick-up or home delivery (south of oregon inlet and now also to manteo, wanchese, manns harbor, and stumpy point). 2024 impact: served 6,183 individuals (from 1,571 households). 6. Holiday meals holidays can be hard when budgets are tight. Our holiday meals program gave 495 households (comprised of 1,271 individuals) everything they needed to prepare a festive meal, with culturally appropriate and dietary-specific options. 7. Home delivery for shut-ins for elderly or homebound neighbors, we continued to offer direct delivery to ensure they never go without food. 8. Produce stands fresh produce is made available in our front parking lot whenever we have surplus donations or need to clear perishables before extended closures. No appointment required - anyone in need can stop by and take what they can use. 9. Pantry garden our volunteer-built raised-bed garden grows items we know clients love but rarely receive in donations - like okra and specialty eggplants. Clients can even harvest food themselves outside business hours if they're in an emergency. 10. Fresh for all food co-op in 2024, we piloted a food co-op designed to empower participating households by giving them greater choice and ownership over the food they receive. Members contributed volunteer time and, in return, gained access to an expanded selection of groceries, fresh produce, and culturally relevant items. This innovative model not only provided food but built community, encouraged collaboration and improved physical and mental health. 18 households participated for the entire pilot. Beyond food: fns & resource assistance we also help clients apply for food & nutrition services (fns) benefits and connect them with other local resources so they can get back on their feet and move toward self-sufficiency.”