National Guard Will Pitch In At North Carolina Food Banks

Members of North Carolina's National Guard will assist with operations at the state's food banks. They'll be deployed to help out for at least one month.  

About 40 Guard members are expected to arrive at Winston-Salem's Second Harvest Food Bank on Thursday. 

The News & Record reports it's one of seven regional food banks that will get assistance from the state militia.

Second Harvest serves those in need throughout the Triad, including Guilford, Rockingham, and Forsyth counties.

Members of the National Guard will perform a variety of tasks, including helping with warehouse operations, sorting and inspecting food, and assisting with food deliveries to Area Agencies on Aging and school nutrition programs.

Officials with the food bank say the need for food assistance is skyrocketing, with over 680,000 North Carolinians losing their jobs and filing for unemployment since mid-March.

North Carolina Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry says that while the physical help from the National Guard is appreciated, financial contributions remain the biggest need for area food banks.

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