By Aaron Weaver
When Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year, the damage stretched far beyond collapsed roofs and washed-out roads. For families already living on the edge financially, the storm made daily survival even more uncertain. As relief crews poured into the region, Cooperative Baptist leaders noticed a quieter crisis — hunger.
Wanda Kidd, who serves as Director of Recovery for Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina for CBF North Carolina, saw it firsthand. “When natural disasters impact a region, the devastation is far beyond just roads, houses, and businesses,” Kidd said. “There is emotional trauma, interrupted education, and job losses, some temporary and some permanent. Still, if a family is already close to the edge financially, which most of us are, even a short-term disruption in income can be devastating.”
The initial wave of aid was generous. Churches, nonprofits, and neighbors rushed in with supplies. But Kidd knew that once headlines shifted, families would still be facing difficult choices. “Life moves on, and other tragedies occur that need attention,” she explained. “Underlying issues that linger past the rebuilds are often left unmet. It was that reality that made those of us working on relief step back and ask what else needs attention.”
The answer was clear: food insecurity, especially among children during the summer months when school meals disappear. “Hunger remains a constant problem for families facing food insecurity during the summer,” Kidd said. “Children are home all day without access to free school meals, especially as cuts are made to food and health assistance from the federal government. Therefore, that is where we started to dream about a plan that could help the families in our region.”
That dream became the Meals for the Mountains Project, a grassroots initiative designed to provide simple, healthy, shelf-stable meals for children and their families in western North Carolina. The project was made possible in part through disaster relief funds from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which allowed the team to purchase food and supplies quickly and efficiently.
Building the Project
Kidd recalls that the program took shape quickly because there was a wide base of people who wanted to contribute. “Creating a coalition to get the project done quickly was a challenge, but it turned out to be easier than I expected,” she said. “People were willing to partner in their areas of ministry, and those throughout the state wanted to get involved, thanks to its introduction through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina.”
The idea was straightforward: partner with churches across the region to identify families most in need and provide them with boxes of food and backpacks of snacks for children throughout the month of July. Each distribution site was asked to find 10 families. With 10 participating churches and community groups, that meant 100 families would receive meals during the summer.
Kidd said structure and communication were crucial. “It was important to keep the project’s stages and tasks clearly defined and manageable,” she explained. “We found it worked well to have two people co-chairing the project, one who understood the big picture and one who was excellent with details. There was good communication, trust, and well-established expectations between them. There was no room for turf issues, just a willingness to do what needed to be done, when it needed to be done.”
What Families Received
Families received what Kidd called a “Pounding Box” on the first day of the program, filled with staples like flour, sugar, peanut butter, rice and basic toiletries. Each week after that, boxes arrived with all the ingredients needed to prepare five different meals chosen by the family from a menu of 15 recipes, ranging from tacos and spaghetti to chicken pot pie and enchiladas.
Alongside the boxes, children received backpacks filled with snacks, cereal bars, juice boxes and small extras like books and crafts. Each week, the backpacks were replenished.
The system was designed not only to feed families but to empower them. Families selected their meals in advance, turning in order sheets that guided the next week’s packing. “Providing aid to those affected by the hurricane met both needs: the desire to help and the ability to make a difference in a day trip,” Kidd said. “It was a win/win for both the youth groups and the senior groups, and a genuine need in the area.”
Stories from the Ground
The project quickly became more than just boxes and backpacks. Communities rallied around the effort. Some churches hosted meals to launch the program, bringing families together for fellowship. Volunteers young and old found meaningful ways to contribute.
Feedback poured in from families and community members. One site leader shared that their mailman noticed the constant flow of boxes and deliveries. “He said, ‘Aren’t you all the group that is feeding local families this summer?’ My husband said, ‘Yes,’ to which he replied, ‘I am just honored to be a part of it. It is no problem.’”
Another youth participant, reflecting on his own past in foster care, told his minister that “something like this would have been very helpful” and affirmed that organizers were “on the right track.”
Kidd said the impact extended beyond immediate hunger relief. Some churches reported that families who participated in the program began visiting their congregations. Others noted that families felt seen and supported, not just fed.
A Lasting Model
For Kidd, Meals for the Mountains was about more than meeting one summer’s need. It became a model for how communities can respond creatively to ongoing food insecurity. “The Meals for the Mountains Project of 2025 was an idea that addressed community needs and shared a vision others could respond to,” she said. “I would say it was successful in achieving its goals.”
From Mars Hill Baptist Church, which served as the hub, to congregations in Spruce Pine, Canton, Hot Springs, and Asheville, the effort demonstrated the power of collaboration. What began as a disaster recovery project turned into a broader ministry of nourishment and hope.
As western North Carolina continues to rebuild, Kidd’s vision ensures that families don’t just survive the storm but also find strength in community long after the floodwaters recede.