Meet Our Food Pantry Staff

Cliff Cameron
Food Pantry Operations Manager
[email protected]
Georgia Ballard-Seguin
Assistant Food Pantry Manager
[email protected]

Food Assistance
In Western North Carolina, 1 in 6 people and 1 in 4 children are food insecure. Here in Polk County, hundreds of people shop in our food pantry every year. Single moms, hurting families, out of work individuals, elderly or disabled people find themselves without enough food to survive.

Through our Food Assistance program - and with the support of in-kind and monetary donations to our annual fund - Outreach provides food to those in need through our client-choice pantry and Backpack Snacks program.

Our food pantry is arranged like a grocery store, giving clients the dignity of choosing the foods they enjoy cooking and serving to their families. 

In addition to food, Outreach provides essential household and hygiene items such as diapers, baby formula, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pet food, toilet paper, paper towels, and other durable goods.

To learn more about our services and eligibility requirements, please click these links or contact Outreach at (828) 894-2988 or visit our office at 134 White Drive, Columbus, NC 28722.
The pantry is much like a small grocery store but free:
  1. Guests are welcomed and guided through the pantry to select items they need
  2. Shoppers can choose fresh produce, meats & breads, dairy, eggs, shelf-stable foods, personal care products, and household essentials
  3. Staff and volunteers are available to assist, answer questions and help carry items if needed

Full-Shop Process
What a Household Full-Shop Provides
A Household Full-Shop provides
  • 21–28 meals each month
  • EATS (weekly while supplies last): 4–5 additional meals per week totaling up to 41-48 meals each month.

Each meal represents enough food for the entire household, so the amount scales with the size of each family.

Programs

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Backpack Mack
EATS (Edible. Available. Time-Saving.)

EATS provides families with 4–5 ready-to-cook meals each week (while supplies last). Each box combines USDA TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) foods, Outreach-provided ingredients and spices, and step-by-step recipe cards—making it easier for families to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals.
Backpack Snacks
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Every week, volunteers pack and deliver 300+ food bags to all Polk County schools. These bags discreetly reach students identified as nutritionally at-risk, giving them food for the weekend. Backpack Snacks is sustained by community donations, volunteers, and Outreach’s food pantry support.
Meals on Wheels
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Outreach partners with the Polk County Senior Center and Polk County Meals on Wheels to support homebound seniors. Each month, we package 150 food packages tailored for seniors, filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, sweet treats and the occasional puzzle book or brainteaser. These are delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers, along with information about Outreach’s services.

This program was created to meet homebound neighbors where they are - ensuring that seniors who can't reach us still know they are cared for and connected to the help they may need.

How You Can Help
Our Food Assistance programs depend on the generosity of our community. There are two powerful ways you can make a difference:
  • Gift Food: Donate items from our Food Pantry Wishlist to keep shelves stocked with what families need most at Outreach (134 White Drive, Columbus, NC 28722)
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  • Gift Funds: A financial gift to our Food Pantry fund stretches every dollar, helping us purchase fresh and shelf-stable foods, as well as essential household and hygiene products.

Whether it’s a can of soup, a box of diapers, or a financial contribution, your support ensures that no neighbor goes hungry.
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