Pop-up markets launch in Cape Fear as SNAP cuts threaten food access
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is hosting a series of pop-up markets in the Cape Fear as more people could see a cut, or lose, their snap benefits altogether.
For the remainder of this month and into the new year, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina at Wilmington plans to have weekly pop-up markets, offering food items for those in need.
As a result of federal funding cuts, many relief organizations including food banks who thought they had guaranteed funding must now reapply for aid.
When food banks struggle to restock their shelves, it limits how much they’re able to pass along to people who need these items.
Isabella Bailey is the pop-up markets coordinator for the food bank.
She says these markets are vital as several snap enrollees could lose their food assistance completely.
“It hurts your heart to see, um that, many of our community members are having to jump through so many hoops to receive these super essential services, and these kind of complex systems that they have to go to in order to receive even the most basic services like food,” said Bailey.
The schedule for the rest of the pop-up markets is linked below.
