Updated 11.22.25

Durham Community Care Collective

Essential Food & Resource Distribution

In partnership with community leaders and partners - including Durham Public School Strong (PSS), Durham For All, Student U, DPS Foundation, Emanuel Food Pantry, Durham Congregations In Action, Judea Reform Congregation, El Futuro, El Centro, Church World Service and Day One Relief - have launched a critical, rapid-response effort to provide essential food and resources to our neighbors.

This is a centralized distribution site with bagged food and essential resources. This is a site that community members such as school staff, community orgs and trusted neighbors are able to pick up food and essential resources that they can get to impacted people they are in direct relationship with.

This food + resources are available for any and all food insecure Durham neighbors.

We expect ongoing heighted levels of need through the holidays and need our wide community support to build this effort together!

Donate Funds: Help us meet needs across Durham!

We have established a fund with DPS Foundation to fuel this effort. Our model is based on bulk purchasing to maximize efficiency and get culturally relevant and most needed items to families.

• We need donations immediately: please click here to contribute now. Your contribution now will enable us to have ample food and resources for our neighbors.

We are not soliciting food donations. Your financial donation goes directly to:

• Bulk Food: Purchasing staple items from local stores and resources such as the food bank.
• Essential Resources: Including diapers, formula, and personal hygiene products. We will also provide mental health resources.

2. Volunteer: Lend Your Time and Skills!

We need dedicated community members for essential roles. Learn more about volunteer roles and sign up to volunteer now! We will contact you with specific role assignments.

If you are already connected with a school site and volunteering through that capacity to bring food to families, you do not need to sign up for that role that you're already filling.

We do need volunteers to sign-up for managing this food distribution. This is an evolving plan; all volunteer roles may not be needed immediately but could be called on in the future.

3. How Resources Will Be Distributed

Our goal is safe, efficient, and trusted distribution:

• Trusted Pick-up: We are in contact with trusted community partners and school staff who already have relationships with families. They are picking up resources on site and ensuring they reach families who need them.

Questions can be directed to publicschoolstrongdurham@gmail.com. We are fielding a high volume of emails; thank you for your patience with any slow responses.