See inside Nourish Up's new Hunger Hub headquarters

Nourish Up — a nonprofit that gives groceries and meals to people across Mecklenburg County — provided food to 55,000 people in the first four months of 2024.

Why it matters: That's 40% higher than the same period in 2023, a record-breaking year, underscoring a local housing crisis and a lack of living wages, Nourish Up CEO Tina Postel tells Axios.

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State of play: Nearly 50% of those served are children and seniors . They're bracing for the summertime surge when kids are out of school and some won't have as much access to food.

Context: Loaves & Fishes merged with Friendship Trays in 2021 to create Nourish Up.

• The Hunger Hub, the nonprofit's new home, is in west Charlotte off Interstate 85 ( 901 Carrier Dr. ).
• Nourish Up bought the building in December 2021 for $8.1 million and moved into the 90,000-square-foot facility in April. It previously leased space behind Costco.
• The new HQ is a $22.8 million project.

Driving the news: The group's latest donation is $3 million from The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation. It's the largest gift Nourish Up has ever received in the organization's nearly 50-year history, and it brings the campaign for the project to just under $20 million.

Zoom in: The new space includes a warehouse, a volunteer center that's climate-controlled, administrative space with a call center and a conference center with a teaching kitchen.

• The facility has 10 times the amount of cold storage as its previous location, meaning they can provide more fresh food to people.
• Other organizations like Feeding Charlotte , which rescues excess food so it goes to people in need rather than being thrown away, can rent space at the Hunger Hub.

Zoom out: Hunger Hub's on-site food pantry will open in the coming months. The space is currently used to package client deliveries, but it will ultimately feel like a small grocery store.

• Its Meals on Wheels kitchen is the next phase of the project.

By the numbers: The nonprofit has seen a surge in the number of people it serves annually.

• In 2021, the organization provided groceries to 77,140 people. By 2022, that number had grown to 106,547.
• In 2023, Nourish Up provided groceries to 137,806 — enough people to fill Bank of America Stadium, Spectrum Center, Bojangles Coliseum, Truist Field and PNC Music Pavilion combined, Postel notes.

What they're saying: "This Hunger Hub home could not have come together at a more perfect time," Postel says.

What's next: Nourish Up is preparing for several grand opening events this month at its new location, including a community cookout on Saturday, June 22, from noon until 2pm to introduce the organization to the neighborhood, Postel says.

• People can stop by for burgers and hot dogs and fresh treats, learn about volunteer opportunities and those in need can get groceries.
• Learn about volunteer opportunities with Nourish Up here , how to donate food here and funds here . If you or someone you know is in need, you can find food here .

Take a look around.

Nourish Up's teaching kitchen and conference center. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios Nourish Up's teaching kitchen and conference center. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios The innovation lounge. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios The onsite food pantry will open in the coming months and be set up like a small grocery store. It's currently being used to package client deliveries. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios Volunteers have a break area and a locker room (not pictured) in the new space. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios Climate controlled sorting area. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios The new location has significantly more cold storage, allowing Nourish Up to provide more fresh produce. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios This space will be transformed into the Meals on Wheels kitchen. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

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