Wilmington nonprofit sees increase in food assistance applications

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington nonprofit that provides meals to families in need says it has seen a recent increase in requests for help.

David Scott, chef and founder of 86 Hunger Now, said more people are reaching out as discussions continue in Washington over potential cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits.

“It’s single moms, single dads, working families that are not making it,” Scott said.

The organization supports individuals who do not qualify for traditional government assistance programs. According to Scott, applications for services have gone up by 25 percent in the last few weeks and continue to rise.

“Just because of the chatter going on in the House and the Senate and of course the President talking about reducing Medicaid and reducing SNAP benefits… I don’t know all the ins and outs of it, but I know enough that people are scared,” he said.

86 Hunger Now prepares meals out of a storage unit and uses kitchens in local churches that volunteer their space. The nonprofit works with donors and sponsors, including local restaurants, individual supporters and companies such as Target.

“We get together and we cook for about 250 people every week,” Scott said. “We put it into to-go containers and we have six routes that we deliver all over Wilmington. We are about to start a route in Leland—there is a huge demand over there.”

Scott has also started collecting unopened and unused food from Airbnb rentals. He said many guests leave behind food and supplies that can be used by the organization.

“This morning I visited 30 Airbnbs myself—picked up food—so that’s a big help,” he said.

He said weekly meal deliveries may help ease some of the pressure families are feeling when facing difficult financial choices.

“Can I send my daughter to Girl Scout camp? Can my son play in Little League this summer? Sports team for 100 bucks, 150 bucks—or buy groceries for that week,” he said.

The nonprofit is fully volunteer-run. Volunteers donate food, prepare meals and deliver them throughout the Wilmington area. While 86 Hunger Now continues to grow, Scott said access to cold storage is a challenge. The group hopes to secure a central warehouse in the near future.

Scott said the application process is simple. It includes questions about family size, food stamp status and whether someone will be home during delivery.