It is with sincere appreciation that Inter-Faith Food Shuttle announces a $20,000 donation from pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The Food Shuttle and GSK have a long history, having spent the last 21 years partnering to fight hunger in central North Carolina. This most recent gift, made at the beginning of the 2021 calendar year, is dedicated to general operations of the Food Shuttle’s hunger solutions, with a focus on growing and sourcing fresh food for distribution to those in need, and providing education and job training for those seeking a pathway toward sustainability.
The GSK funds will provide support for programs like the Food Shuttle’s Agricultural division including the Food Shuttle Farm and its Urban Learning Gardens in Raleigh (Camden Street) and Durham (Geer Street). It also supports programs like the Culinary Apprenticeship Program (CAP), which is starting up a new class in April. These programs promote long-term solutions to the issue of hunger and empower people at their point of need. The Agriculture programs establish ongoing and ready access to fresh, chemical-free, locally-grown produce. CAP trains individuals who are unemployed or underemployed with hands-on education and a paid work experience so that they can gain the skills required to pursue a career in the food industry; and as a result, providing them with the potential to obtain steady employment.
“We extend our thanks to GlaxoSmithKline for making a recent donation toward the critical work of the Food Shuttle,” says Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s President and CEO, L. Ron Pringle. “Together, we can cultivate innovative and transformative solutions in our quest to end hunger. We also acknowledge the numerous GSK employees that give directly from their paychecks to the Food Shuttle; their commitment does not go unnoticed.”
Maxine Solomon, one of the Food Shuttle’s co-founders, has been a proud employee of GlaxoSmithKline for 17 years. Erica Henderson, GSK’s Director of Non-Profit Organization Engagement and Public Affairs with the Public Policy team, joined the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Board of Directors in February of 2020.