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About Us
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
- Provide healthy, accessible meals for anyone who is food insecure. Our focus is Durham Public Schools students, our homeless population, and workers who have been laid off in relation to COVID-19. That being said, anyone in need of a meal can have it.
- Support our local farms who have lost markets for their goods as wholesale buyers and
- Provide healthy, accessible meals for anyone who is food insecure. Our focus is Durham Public Schools students, our homeless population, and workers who have been laid off in relation to COVID-19. That being said, anyone in need of a meal can have it.
- Support our local farms who have lost markets for their goods as wholesale buyers and restaurants shut down.
- Put a restaurant back into service and pay a living wage to 4 employees, 20 hours per week (with more to follow), in a safe and healthy capacity.
Our Team
Our Mission
Our Mission
- Elijah King, Founder of Youth NXT, Community Organizer
- Grant Ruhlman, local business owner, Homebucha Kombucha
- George O'Neil, local farm owner, Lil Farm
- Andy Magowan, local business owner, Geer Street Garden
- Kristin Bedinger, Volunteer Coordinator
Our History
Our Mission
Our History
Following Durham Public School closures, it was apparent that students would be faced with food security challenges. Elijah King, student of RIverside High, had the idea to launch a program to help fill the need. On March 21, he reached out to local business owner Grant Ruhlman (Homebucha Kombucha) who had already been in contact with l
Following Durham Public School closures, it was apparent that students would be faced with food security challenges. Elijah King, student of RIverside High, had the idea to launch a program to help fill the need. On March 21, he reached out to local business owner Grant Ruhlman (Homebucha Kombucha) who had already been in contact with local farmer George O'Neil (Lil Farm) about a similar project. We quickly formed a team and began organizing, adding Geer Street Garden as a partner to prepare the meals. Our plan is simple: provide 100 meals per day, 5 days per week. With community support, the Durham Neighbors Free Lunch Initiative has reached its first funding goal and will begin service Thursday, April 9, 2020.