In an inspiring example of community collaboration, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is proud to partner with echoReverb for the “Teens Tackle Hunger” initiative. This partnership stems from a shared commitment to addressing food insecurity as summer began and school was out.
The journey began in January 2024 with echo’s Zero Hunger Innovation Sprint. This initiative brought together innovative minds and passionate teens to brainstorm and develop impactful strategies for addressing food insecurity in Durham. During this process, a key issue emerged: many children in Durham were at risk of going hungry during the summer months when school is out.
To tackle this problem, echo, a Durham-based non-profit supporting entrepreneurial growth, organized a 10-week after-school incubator following the sprint. This program empowered local youth to refine and present their own projects aimed at combating food insecurity. The culmination of their hard work was the Zero Hunger Incubator Showcase on April 28, where five outstanding teams showcased their innovative solutions to a panel of judges and the Durham community.
Recognizing the urgent need for summer meals for local youth, echo partnered with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to take decisive action. The “Tackle Hunger Summer 2024” initiative kicked off July 18 at Lakewood Social and aims to provide over 3,000 meals and have aimed to host a total of five events in Durham throughout this summer.
The Food Shuttle has been working diligently to prepare and distribute delicious and nutritious meals for this initiative. We have also provided fun cooking demos. From savory carnitas tacos to hearty vegetarian taco options, our team has been serving up hot, delicious food. Additionally, we provide produce and shelf-stable products for families to take home.
The collaboration between echo and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a testament to the power of community and innovation. By coming together, we are not only addressing immediate needs but also laying the groundwork for a more sustainable solution to food insecurity. We are incredibly proud of the positive impact this initiative and the inspiring next generation of changemakers and social innovators have made and look forward to continuing our efforts to tackle hunger in Durham.
Together, we are making a difference, one meal at a time.
Photo credits to Austin Lopesilver, Aspen Studios.