In the wake of Hurricane Florence, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina has responded to the immediate needs of those affected by providing food, water, and supplies from each of its six branches.
 
As of Oct. 2, the Food Bank had distributed more than 1 million meals worth of food (more than 1.5 million pounds) to affected communities.
 
Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen recently partnered with chefs Emeril Lagasse and David Slater to host a fundraising dinner for the food bank.

Tickets for the dinner, proceeds from the auction and a matched pledge from Austin, Texas-based Tito’s Vodka equated to 620,000 meals for people recovering from Hurricane Florence in the Food Bank’s 34-county service area.
 
Christensen, Lagasse and Slater joined forces with Tito’s Vodka; Chapel Hill's Gary Crunkleton; local musician Dave Wright; Raleigh's Boulted Bread; Max Kast of Fearrington House; Jim Stock of Haw River Wine Man; Todd and Lisa McGowan; Themeworks; CE Rentals; and Party Reflections for the event.
 
“I am so thankful to be part of such an amazingly generous community that can come together so quickly to help when our fellow North Carolinians are in need,” Christensen said. “This would not have been possible without the support of a team of wonderful contributors who made it an epically special night for such an important cause.”
 
While shelters and community meal sites across the area are beginning to close, the Food Bank stressed that the urgent need continues.
 
“We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of this community,” said Peter Werbicki, president and CEO of the Food Bank. “Our staff, partners, donors, and volunteers have jumped right in to meet the need, and thanks to the support of people like Ashley and her whole team, we are able to continue serving the people in urgent need for the long haul.”
 
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