Guilford County Invests in Food Security through Cooperative Extension

The goal of the Food Security Program in the N.C. Cooperative Extension - Guilford County Center is to improve food security across Guilford County communities. We do this by working through the various parts of the food system. Our work includes improving access to food, building the capacity of existing organizations that connect people to food, strengthening our farming system and farmers' markets, minimizing food waste, and improving food reclamation.

In 2022, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners established the Food Security Program through the county's Cooperative Extension office using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The primary objectives of the program are to:

• Improve opportunities for collaboration and connection between existing community organizations and stakeholders committed to improving food security in Guilford County.
• Create a system for measuring and sharing data amongst organizations working to improve food security across Guilford County.
• Develop a county-wide food security plan for Guilford County.

Guilford County Food Insecurity Stats:

• Overall food insecurity rate: 15.2% (2023)
  • This equals to 82,510 food insecure individuals (2023)
• Child food insecurity rate: 22.5% (2023)
  • This equals to 27,110 food insecure children (2023)
• Black food insecurity rate: 29.0% (2023)
• Latinx food insecurity rate: 22.0% (2023)
  

Source: Feeding America: Map the Meal Gap (2025)

Visit Guilford County's New Food Security Hub Website

Guilford County's Food Security Hub is a place where individuals facing food insecurity, farmers, and consumers can connect with the resources they need. Guilford County is committed to ensuring that all residents have access to fresh, nutritious food. By fostering partnerships between growers and community organizations, we aim to create pathways that uplift our farmers while providing essential resources for food-insecure populations. Explore programs and initiatives designed to empower both producers and consumers, as we work together to build a resilient food system that nourishes everyone in our communities.

Find Food Assistance in Guilford County

The Greater Guilford Food Finder app, an initiative of the Greater High Point Food Alliance (GHPFA), is a free, easy-to-use tool that helps residents quickly locate emergency food resources—including pantries, free meals, and community kitchens—across Guilford County. By offering real-time, up-to-date information on local food access points, the app helps neighbors find assistance quickly and reduces barriers to accessing nutritious food during urgent situations. Community partners are encouraged to share this resource to connect families, seniors, and individuals experiencing hardship with local support in their area.

The GHPFA December 2025 edition of the Greater Guilford Community Resource Guide is now available!

¡La edición de Diciembre de 2025 de la Comunidad de Greater Guilford Guia de Recursos de GHPFA ya está disponible en Español!

The GHPFA has also developed a culturally appropriate food guide.

Stay Connected: Join Our Email List

The easiest way to stay up to date on what is happening in our Food Security Program is to subscribe to email updates. Updates are sent out about once per month.

• Sign up for any of our newsletters by going to this page: https://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/department-newsletters/
  

Progress Updates

• March 2026 - Melodie Melbouci's last day as Food Security Program Assistant will be March 6, 2026. Melodie will still reachable at mmelbouci@guilfordcountync.gov. Thank you for everything!
• August 2024 - We are excited to announce that Melodie Melbouci will be joining our team on August 26 as our Guilford County Food Security Program Assistant!
• June 2024 - We have posted and closed the Food Security Program Assistant position through Guilford County and are in the process of reviewing applications and scheduling interviews.
• March 2023 - We are excited to announce that Alyssa McKim will be joining our team on April 24 as our Guilford County Food Security Coordinator! We will hold a floating welcome reception for Alyssa on April 26 from 12 - 2PM at the Guilford County Extension Office (3309 Burlington Road in Greensboro).
• January 2023 - We have posted and closed the Food Security Coordinator position through Guilford County and are in the process of reviewing applications and scheduling interviews. Once this position is filled, we will begin the process of hiring a Food Security Program Assistant.
• December 2022 - Construction of workspaces for the expected new staff members has been completed.

Get Involved: Guilford County Food Action Network (GCFAN)

GCFAN is a diverse coalition of community partners, organizations, and community members committed to addressing barriers to food security, promoting food distribution, empowering local agriculture, and advocating for policies to ensure that ALL residents have access to affordable and nutritious food.

Interested in joining or want more information? Contact the Food Security Team at amckim@guilfordcountync.gov or mmelbouci@guilfordcountync.gov!