Salvation Army asks Kernersville for $20,000 to support local food pantry
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Summary
The Salvation Army presented its annual Kernersville food pantry report and requested $20,000 to cover operating expenses; staff provided service statistics and program details.
Representatives of the Salvation Army presented the organization’s annual update to the Kernersville Board of Aldermen on March 4 and requested $20,000 in town funding to support the local food pantry’s operating expenses.
Brandon McCann, development director for the Salvation Army’s Kernersville operation, told the board the pantry averages about 409 families per month (roughly 1,000–1,300 individuals depending on month) and distributes about 15,000 food boxes annually. McCann said the pantry logged roughly 3,700 volunteer hours in 2024 with an active volunteer base of about 52 people.
McCann described the pantry’s distribution model — pickups from local grocery partners and Second Harvest Food Bank, a mix of frozen and fresh produce and proteins in the typical food box, and distribution three days per week (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays) with families served once per week. He said the pantry also performs referrals to social services and, on a case-by-case basis, provides emergency assistance for families facing sudden need.
McCann said the pantry is audited internally by the Salvation Army’s procedures and externally by Second Harvest’s TFAP and that a local advisory board made up of Kernersville residents helps oversee operations. He told the board that about 98% of pantry participants are Kernersville residents and that the pantry partners with local nonprofits and the school system for operations.
The funding request — $20,000 — is intended to support operating costs such as vehicle maintenance, fuel and insurance, supplemental food purchases from Second Harvest when donations are low, and interpretation services for Spanish-speaking clients. McCann introduced Major David Lee and advisory board chair Diane Harper Long, and thanked town staff who assist the pantry.
Why it matters: The pantry is one of the largest in Forsyth County (second to the largest, according to the presenter) and relies on local partnerships and volunteers; the requested municipal support would help maintain vehicle-based pickups and distribution and cover shortfalls in donated food.
