Local food bank ramps up Thanksgiving prep as holiday demand surges

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — The holiday season is right around the corner, and local food banks are taking extra steps to prepare for the feast. 

The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in Wilmington is working on its preparations for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

 Volunteers are peeling turkey, and the staff are stocking pallets to send out to partner organizations. 

 Following recent cuts in snap benefits, the food bank is grateful for the community’s support during the harder times. 

 Emily Kraft is the Director of Community Outreach for the food bank. 

 She says that all the preparations will get the food bank through the holidays, and into the next year. 

“October through Christmas is our busiest time of year in the food bank world. Almost half of what we are collecting, both financially and through food donations, is coming through in this time of year. So, we appreciate the increased generosity because we’ll be able to stretch that into the new year, so when we see those emergency walk-ins and whatever 2026 might hold for us, we have that food drive build up, our Food Lion Feeds boxes build up, and we have those resources ready for 2026,” said Kraft. 

The Market on Greenfield is open Monday and Thursdays from 10 am to 1 pm and Tuesday and Fridays from 1-4 pm.