FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Throughout July, Cape Fear Farm Credit (CFFC) partnered with local farmers to share their fresh produce with food donation centers and families within the communities they serve. All nine branches of the Association purchased produce, packaged and partnered with local organizations to distribute 675 bags across 12 counties in southeastern North Carolina. This initiative ensured approximately 2,700 people in their communities received fresh produce.
“I’m so proud of Cape Fear Farm Credit for stepping up to serve our communities during these tough times. More than 70 employees gave their time and energy to make this initiative a success, which really speaks to our purpose to serve agriculture to enrich the lives of others,” said CEO Evan Kleinhans.
Employee volunteers delivered the bags of fresh produce to 17 different community partners including local food banks, church groups, and Baptist on a Mission throughout the counties of Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland to assist in distributing the produce bags within the local communities. Overall, the employee from all nine branches volunteered more than 290 hours to pack and distribute the produce-filled bags throughout these local communities.
With the help and partnership of 38 local farmer customer-owners, CFFC team members secured a variety of produce ranging from corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, squash, zucchini, blueberries, blackberries, watermelons and more.
Cape Fear Farm Credit works to strengthen communities and foster a culture of service. It encourages employees to support communities in addition to working together with customers to fulfill the credit needs of part and full-time farmers and rural homeowners. Cape Fear Farm Credit serves and aids customers in achieving their goals and dreams, while building stronger communities.
About Cape Fear Farm Credit
Cape Fear Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides loans for land, equipment, livestock and production as well as rural home mortgages and rural living. Cape Fear Farm Credit has branches serving Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland counties. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. To locate a branch near you, visit www.capefearfc.com or call 1.800.368.5819.
–Joshua Daugette, Cape Fear Farm Credit