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Food insecurity does not just linger on the outskirts of a community, affecting only the unemployed or the homeless individuals. In fact, according to the USDA, one in ten American households struggle with the uncertainty of not knowing where their next meal is coming from or whether they have enough funds to put food on the table.

While statistics give the facts about food insecurity, we at PEOPLE invite you to meet the Hunger Heroes, extraordinary people who volunteer their time to help ensure neighbors have nutritious food on the table. We are highlighting deserving individuals, their inspirational stories rooted in giving and empathy and the meaningful work that helps them to feed families in need.

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BRIAN
VANNOY

Dollar General
Store Manager New Castle, PA
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You can live without a car. You can live without a TV. But people need to eat…If you can only do a small project, just do a small project. If you have the means and the capabilities to do a bigger project, go for it.”
BRIAN

During COVID-19, Dollar General Store Manager Brian Vannoy saw the need to provide food in his community, especially for his elderly neighbors. Brian and his wife, Virginia, set up a picnic table in their front yard. They initially used their own funds to fill the table with essential, nonperishable food items and asked neighbors to take what they needed or give what they could.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
Neighbors and community members took notice and began to drop off their own donations. “I didn’t think that just a little table would get the response it did,” Brian said. As donations grew, Brian moved the table inside his portable greenhouse, creating a space where those in need could browse shelves for free food. When summer arrived and temperatures rose, they added a small refrigerator to hold perishables.

Brian and Virginia Vannoy help deliver food to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Soon Brian and Virginia were procuring up to 70 boxes of donated food per week from nearby Victory Family Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania. For those unable or unwilling to leave their homes, Brian and Virginia hand-delivered food directly to peoples' doorsteps.

Brian continues to feed his neighbors and support his community by delivering food to those in need. Dollar General recognized his efforts with a DG Kindness Award and a donation to his local community food bank.

JACKIE
COLLINS

Director of Hope’s Helping Hands Cynthiana, Kentucky
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Go volunteer one day at your local food pantry. Really put yourself in their shoes, listen to their stories, and then you'll realize what a difference it makes and what it's like to be insecure about where your next meal is coming from… Think about what it would be like if it was you.”
JACKIE

Years ago, Jackie and her husband woke to discover their home on fire. They escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Everything they owned was ashes. Their community rallied to help by donating items to help them to rebuild their lives. “[It] really impacted me to see people who had no clue who we were reach out and help us get started again.”

The kindness bestowed by neighbors inspired Jackie to look for ways to help others in her community. Today, she serves as the Director of Hope’s Helping Hands, an in-house food pantry through Living Hope Assembly of God Church in Harrison County, Kentucky. Jackie leads efforts to coordinate donations and distribute food supplies twice a week to residents in need. She works alongside her husband, county and city officials, local first responders and businesses to ensure people in her community have access to nutritious food.

Jackie and her husband pick up about 2,000 pounds of food each week from multiple sources—including God’s Pantry, a Feeding America partner food bank. She is most grateful for fresh food, including milk and other items donated from area Dollar General stores.

“All the years that I've served, we have bought cereal for children [who are served through the pantry], but getting milk is another issue. We’re grateful that Dollar General is providing this and other needed resources for our pantry.”

Under Jackie’s supervision, the food pantry serves around 450 families, or about 1,200 to 1,300 people, each month. Donations from Hope’s Helping Hands help prevent many food bank recipients from choosing between paying essential bills, buying medications and feeding their families.

ANTOINETTE HARGROVE DUKE

Founder of “But God Ministry” Nashville, Tennessee
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We are taught at a young age that where there is a need and you have the ability to give, then you do it. We can make an impact on peoples’ lives by just showing up, listening and understanding what they need.”
ANTOINETTE

Every month, Antoinette Hargrove Duke and But God Ministry provides up to 15,000 pounds of food to community members challenged by food insecurity throughout metro Nashville, Tennessee.

Growing up as one of 13 children, Antoinette vividly remembers times when meals needed to be stretched.

Antoinette founded But God Ministry in 2014 after experiencing a period of personal hardship. She realized that doing good and being of service helped both her neighbors and herself. As she searched for impactful ways to give back and serve her community, Antoinette soon recognized hunger was one of the most pervasive issues affecting her neighbors.

But God Ministry operates its mobile pantry with support from fellow faith-based groups or nonprofit organizations including Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, a Feeding America partner that receives in-kind food donations and financial support from Dollar General.

Hunger is not a surprise. Food insecurity is not a surprise,” says Antoinette. “What is a surprise is sometimes we think it just affects people in certain zip codes.

REBECCA CRAFTON

Store Training Manager, Dollar General Elberta, Alabama
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Personally, I understand what it means to struggle. I’m so grateful for how this community has supported its neighbors through tough times. It’s truly a blessing.”
Rebecca

Regardless of why a need exists, Rebecca Crafton is often one of the first in her south Alabama town to help. Growing up, Rebecca watched her mother provide supplies and meals to help feed elderly neighbors. So, when Rebecca first noticed “Operation Blessing Boxes” popping up near her hometown, she saw an opportunity to follow in her mother’s footsteps and help neighbors in need.

“Operation Blessing Boxes” allows Rebecca to directly help those in her community eat when they otherwise might go hungry. As a store training manager for Dollar General in Elberta, Alabama, Rebecca knows just how impactful the Blessing Boxes can be. “People come [to the store] and they don’t have enough [money] or can just get one thing,” says Rebecca. “Being able to get the right things to eat affects a lot of people—a lot more people than you know.”

Folks are encouraged to give what they can and take what they need—from foods to hygiene items like diapers—from the Blessing Box. No questions are asked. Rebecca witnessed how the boxes can be a lifeline for people needing help or financial breathing room, particularly towards the end of the month.

“It's a lot to watch someone struggle when they're trying to buy their medicine, and they don't have money to get food,” says Rebecca.

Thanks to Rebecca's hard work and a donation from Dollar General, Blessing Boxes have been filled with more food to help neighbors in need.

Dollar General is committed to fighting and addressing American food insecurity through millions of pounds of in-kind food donations per year and $2 million in corporate funding to Feeding America since 2021. Learn more at hereforwhatmatters.com