UNC Health Lenoir teammates collect more than 5,000 pounds of food during annual Feastival of Foods drive

On November 21, UNC Health Lenoir hosted its annual “Feastival of Foods” food drive, continuing a long-standing tradition of supporting local families during the holiday season. Teammates from across the hospital united to collect more than 5000 pounds of food for Lenoir County residents facing food insecurity. Donation boxes were placed in every hospital department beginning in October, and employees filled them to the brim with nonperishables, canned goods, and pantry staples. At the culmination of the event, volunteers gathered to weigh, sort, and prepare the donations for distribution.

According to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, one in five people in our area struggle with hunger. Thanks to the generosity of UNC Health Lenoir teammates, Feastival of Foods provided full Thanksgiving groceries, including a turkey, to fifteen local families. Additional food was shared with multiple community food pantries and partner agencies, helping expand the reach of this year’s collection. The UNC Health Lenoir Cancer Center food pantry was also restocked to support patients undergoing treatment.

The Feastival of Foods tradition continues to be a meaningful reminder of the power of teamwork and compassion at UNC Health Lenoir. Departments collaborated to organize friendly competitions, create themed donation boxes, and encourage widespread participation. Many teammates also volunteered their time to sort food, deliver donations, and ensure every family received a thoughtful and complete meal. Their efforts reflect UNC Health Lenoir’s commitment to serving the community both inside and outside hospital walls.

“Our team’s enthusiasm and generosity for this project always amazes me. Our employees genuinely care about each other and our community and want to share their resources with others. We have been doing this project for over 20 years and it’s always rewarding to see how our team responds,” stated Paula Hinson, Feastival of Foods Chairperson.

UNC Health Lenoir, licensed for 199 beds, is a nonprofit hospital serving the Lenoir County area with acute, outpatient, and community health services. The hospital has a 118-year history of providing excellent care to the community. In addition to general medical, surgical, and obstetrical and gynecological care, UNC Lenoir offers specialized services including cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, radiology, and urology. Surgical specialties include general surgery, vascular, orthopedic, and bariatrics. UNC Health Lenoir affiliated with the UNC Health Care System in 2017. For more information or to find a physician, visit unclenoir.org.