Trustees of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation of Winston-Salem have awarded a grant to Wilmington-based non-profit Feast Down East. The two-year grant of $120,000 will support the organization’s work of connecting low-resourced farmers to markets and other partners in an effort to keep local food dollars in southeastern North Carolina and help build regional wealth.

Feast Down East was founded in response to growing poverty rates and massive job loss in southeastern North Carolina’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The organization is working to develop a strong local food ecosystem by assisting farmers in identifying new markets, cultivating innovative partnerships, and providing educational opportunities.

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation invests in statewide, regional and community-based organizations that are dedicated to building an inclusive, sustainable and vibrant state. Earlier this year, trustees voted to approve 83 grants totaling $10.1 million to organizations across North Carolina.

“The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation supports innovative organizations that are finding new ways to increase economic opportunities, build community wealth and foster collaboration,” said Leslie Winner, the foundation's executive director. “Feast Down East is working to build healthy local food systems that sustainably enhance community economic development and improve nutrition by working with growers and consumers to create a market for fresh food that improves outcomes for both. We are proud to be a partner in achieving this shared vision.”

“Our longstanding partnership with the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has been vital to our work,” said Leslie Hossfeld, co-founder and president of Feast Down East. “We are so fortunate to work with a funder who understands the need to have a multi-pronged approach to food systems development, from supporting limited-resourced farmers in building their farm businesses, to ensuring food access and nutrition awareness to low income communities in food deserts, as well as developing farm-to-institution buying relationships and important aggregation and distribution opportunities.

"The work we are doing in southeastern North Carolina provides an exemplar in economic development and poverty alleviation throughout the state. We simply could not make the needed impact without the support of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.”

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