Inside Feeding Kannapolis Hunger and Its Free Aug 15 Wellness Market

Some ministries begin in a sanctuary. This one began in a field. Since 2018, Feeding Kannapolis Hunger has been gathering fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste and placing it directly into the hands of neighbors who need it. On Saturday, August 15, the organization is opening its doors for something a little different: a free Health and Wellness Market built around good food, practical cooking, and healthier living.Feeding Kannapolis Hunger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by Jim Bramlett and Dr. Jomari Torres, with a straightforward goal: get more fresh produce into the hands of people who are going without it. Much of that produce comes through gleaning, the age-old practice of collecting the crops left behind after a field has been harvested. Working alongside volunteers from the Society of St. Andrew, a national gleaning organization, the group rescues good food from farms across Rowan and Cabarrus counties before it can be plowed under or thrown away.

From there, the model is simple and dignified. The organization gathers donations from farmers, bakeries, grocers, and neighbors, then hands them out at drive-through events: usually a share of fresh produce along with a dozen eggs and bread. There is no long application and no red tape. Neighbors drive up, and the giving continues until the produce is gone. Hunger in our area is rarely about a total absence of food; it is often about access to the right food, and fresh produce is among the hardest to find at many emergency food sites.On Saturday, August 15, Feeding Kannapolis Hunger is hosting a free Health and Wellness Market beginning at 9:30 AM at 201 Vance St, Kannapolis, NC 28081. The morning is designed to do more than hand out food. It includes a wellness class and healthy cooking classes led by Chef Solomon Hall, and everyone who registers will receive a free box of healthy produce and eggs to take home. The boxes are limited to the first 50 registered guests, and registration closes before August 11. Neighbors can sign up early through the Feeding Kannapolis Hunger website (feedingkannapolishunger.org) or their Facebook page.

Solo Faith Church is sharing this story because fresh, healthy food is one of the clearest ways a community tells its neighbors that they matter. The work Jim Bramlett and Feeding Kannapolis Hunger are doing in the fields of Rowan and Cabarrus counties reflects the same conviction behind our own food ministry: that no one should go without simply because of where they live or how hard it is to get around. Solo Faith Church also delivers free groceries to families across Concord who cannot get to a pantry themselves; you can learn more at solofaith.org.Originally published on the Solo Faith Church blog: https://www.solofaith.org/post/inside-feeding-kannapolis-hunger-and-its-... Support Note: This story is part of Solo Faith Church's community journalism initiative to uplift Concord and Kannapolis neighbors and share the work being done across Cabarrus County. The details in this post were drawn from event information and a description shared directly with Solo Faith Church, along with the organization's public website.