What is NCFST?
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) is a network of partners and community members who are passionate about eliminating food insecurity in Northern Wake County. The NCFST also serves as a collaborative hub where volunteers and local organizations assemble to discuss and develop strategies to fight hunger in Northern Wake County with a special emphasis on areas in and around Wake Forest and Rolesville. Relationships established by NCFST are critical for securing and communicating the availability of needed resources.
NCFST Overview
In February 2018, the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners endorsed Wake County’s Comprehensive Food Security Plan making the Town the first in Wake County to join our area’s local food council, the Capital Area Food Network (CAFN). The plan is designed to move the county towards strategies that address hunger now and in the future.
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST), a 501(c) (1) organization, was created to develop and launch a viable food security plan for northern Wake County that aligns with the CAFN plan. The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners charged NCFST with enlisting community members, food security organizations, resource experts, and other stakeholders to develop activities, policies, and partnerships that will move the county towards food security and a sustainable food future.
Wake Forest Cares
The Northern Community Food Security Team is a Wake Forest Cares initiative.
In the News
Eat Well Wake
The Eat Well Wake initiative aims to help patients at Wake County's Northern Regional Center clinic who experience food security issues and have chronic health conditions. The program provides patients and their families approximately 100lbs of healthy foods each month consisting of fresh produce, low fat dairy, lean proteins, and healthy shelf stable foods (i.e.: low sodium, reduced fat, no sugar added etc.). The desired outcome is to help participants better mitigate their chronic condition by providing the needed resources (both food and support) to make positive changes to their diet.
Update from our partner Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry
Donations Needed! Donations are gratefully accepted at the pantry during open hours: Mondays and Wednesdays and the second and third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Can't make it to the TAM office on Monday or Wednesday? Our partners in the community offer donation bins where we can accept your non-perishable food items. For alternative drop off locations, click here.
"Angel Fund" help Wake students to pay for school lunch
The Wake school system has created a districtwide “Angel Fund” to accept financial donations that would be used whenever students run out of money in their meal account. The fund would avoid situations where students have their lunch taken away from them and replaced with a tray of only fruits and vegetables. Shinica Thomas, chairperson of the Board of Commissioners, said the county will promote the new angel fund. Here’s how you can donate: Parents who have a meal account can donate the balance of your student's account by completing this form. Community members who wish to donate can call Child Nutrition at 919-856-2918.
Ongoing Hurricane Relief & Support to Western NC
If your family was affected by Hurricane Helene or you'd like to offer support, please visit the NC Disaster Information Center.
Upcoming Events
2025 NCFST Bi-Annual Meeting Dates
Thursday, March 20 – Noon-2 pm, Wake Forest Town Hall, Meeting Rooms A & B
Tuesday, Aug. 19 – 5:30-7:30 pm, Northern Regional Center, Room #163
The NCFST will host an in-person meetings on at Wake Forest Town Hall and at the Northern Regional Center. All are welcome to attend. Meals provided at the meeting, please RSVP for the meal.
NCFST Mobile Market EXTENDED until December 2026!
2nd & 4th Thursday of each month (Rain or Shine) | 3-5 pm | 350 E. Holding Ave.
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) is partnering with Ripe for Revival to offer a mobile grocery store on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m. across from the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave. Offering fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy from local and regional farmers on a pay-what-you-can scale, the Ripe for Revival Mobile Market made its inaugural debut in September 2023.
Ripe for Revival utilizes its network of farmer and food industry relationships to narrow the gap between farm excess and food access. The company purchases “retired” city or school buses, renovates them to include refrigerators and freezers, and transforms them into Mobile Markets that can drive into communities impacted by food insecurity. Rain or Shine, however, may be rescheduled due to severe weather.
CROP Hunger Walk
CROP Hunger Walks are community-based fundraising events held across the United States to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization dedicated to transforming communities through just and sustainable solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. These events also have a local impact: after each CROP Hunger Walk, 25% of the funds raised are returned to the host community to support local hunger relief efforts. In Wake Forest, the beneficiaries of these funds are Tri-Area Ministry, Hope House, and Wake Forest Community Table.
This year marks the 46th anniversary of the Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk, scheduled for Sunday, September 28th. Details about registration, time, and location will be announced soon. Volunteers are needed to help plan this special event—if you’re interested in joining the committee, please email wakeforestcropwalk@gmail.com.
Our 2025 goal is ambitious but achievable: we aim to raise $20,000 and engage 200 walkers and volunteers. Last year, we had an incredible turnout with nearly 100 participants and raised just under $15,000. With your help, we can reach new heights this year!
Notably, in 2020 and 2021, Wake Forest earned a spot in the "Top 100 Cream of the Crop" rankings—a distinction we’re striving to achieve again. Let’s make 2025 our best year yet!
Other Initiatives
