Walltown Neighborhood Ministries, a collective of churches and partner organizations in the historically Black neighborhood of Walltown in Durham, is working to open a permanent food bank for community members after years of occupying temporary locations. The organization's mission to revitalize the area and alleviate poverty has been a driving force for nearly three decades, and the establishment of a permanent food bank is the latest step in their ongoing efforts to support the community.

Empowering Walltown: A Holistic Approach to Community Transformation

Revitalizing a Neighborhood in Need

In 1996, five local churches came together to address the pressing issues facing the Walltown neighborhood. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive approach, they set out to "revitalize [the] declining neighborhood" and "alleviate problems associated with nagging poverty." Over the past 28 years, Walltown Neighborhood Ministries (WNM) has evolved into a multifaceted organization, providing a range of services to the community, including a food pantry, clothing and personal hygiene products for the homeless, and an Angel Tree program to ensure children in need receive Christmas presents.

Forging Partnerships for Lasting Impact

The Duke Divinity School was one of the organization's first partners, joining the effort in 1997. Two years later, the Divinity School contributed to the Walltown Families and Children Initiative, a faith-based service funded by The Duke Endowment. This collaboration has been instrumental in expanding the reach and impact of WNM's community outreach efforts.

Addressing Food Insecurity with Strategic Timing

Today, the food bank operated by WNM serves 150 families, providing them with roughly two to three weeks' worth of food at the end of the month. This strategic timing is crucial, as the end of the month is often when expenses like rent are due, leaving families with limited resources. By targeting this critical period, WNM ensures that those in need can access the necessary sustenance to weather the financial challenges they face.

Seeking a Permanent Home for Stability and Efficiency

Currently, WNM's food bank operates primarily out of the Trinity Presbyterian Church on Trinity Avenue, a shared space that has presented its own set of challenges. Volunteers have had to work around church events, and the need to transport supplies such as tents and tables has been particularly difficult for older volunteers. Longtime WNM volunteer Desi Cooper explained that the service has moved locations three or four times in recent memory, each time requiring the relocation of essential equipment and the installation of new electrical infrastructure.

Envisioning a Streamlined and Expanded Operation

Sylvia Belcher, the community outreach coordinator for WNM, emphasized the benefits of a permanent location. Currently, food storage and distribution take place in two different facilities due to space constraints. By consolidating operations into a single permanent location, the organization would be able to streamline the process, "sav[ing] a lot of time and effort." Belcher estimated that the food bank could support between 25 and 50 additional families, or around 250 to 300 people, with a dedicated facility.

Securing Funding for a Transformative Project

WNM's new facility would be built on a donated plot of land next to St. John's Missionary Baptist Church, one of the original founding churches. The estimated costs for the entire project range from $200,000 to $300,000. To raise the necessary funds, WNM has already held multiple small fundraisers and is considering starting a GoFundMe page and hosting a gala at the beginning of 2025.

Overcoming Funding Challenges to Meet Community Needs

Pastor Robert Daniels, one of WNM's founding members and the organization's current president, revealed that roughly $50,000 to $60,000 had already been raised for the project, primarily through donations from congregants and occasional grant funding. However, as WNM relies on donations and grants to support the food bank, funding shortages can affect the organization's ability to meet the growing needs of the community. Sylvia Belcher expressed the challenges of having to turn away those in need, stating, "It's hard to look at people who have need[s] and we can't reach it — I mean basic things like food and water and shelter."

Embracing the Opportunity to Expand Community Outreach

Despite the funding challenges, volunteers are excited for the project and the possibility of expanding the scope of WNM's community service mission. Pastor Daniels emphasized the importance of the work, saying, "With the economy as it is, in the sense that there are more poor people who are living with food scarcity, it's just a grave need out there. We'd like to be a part of meeting those needs." The establishment of a permanent food bank would not only provide a stable and efficient hub for food distribution but also serve as a catalyst for further community engagement and empowerment.