Our Impact

CORA envisions a community without hunger. A healthy, strong, and connected community where all people have equitable access to abundant, safe, nutritious, and culturally relevant food. Through our work, we will help build a healthy Chatham County, a place where families thrive, children do well in school, and seniors do not face the stress of choosing between food and other necessities. Thanks to the vision, generosity, and hard work of hundreds of individuals, businesses, churches, and organizations CORA is a thriving organization.

According to the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center, approximately 11% of the population in Chatham County lives at or below the poverty level, and 27% is considered low-income. In addition, according to the 2021 Chatham County Health Assessment, more than 1 in 6 households reported cost as a barrier to eating healthy snacks and meals. Last year, CORA distributed 1.28 million meals to over 10,000 individuals. CORA is dedicated to improving access to nutritious food and the quality of life by meeting the needs of those facing food insecurity through our various programs.

Research shows that access to nutritious food is the key to a healthy community where children do well in school, families thrive, and seniors do not face the stress of choosing between food and other necessities. Providing nutritious food in underserved areas improves the community’s health and economic vitality. Food insecurity does not occur in a silo, and systemic inequities occur on the basis of income, race, gender, age, immigration status, and other social identities. CORA is working towards an equitable and resilient food system for all Chatham County residents by providing healthy and nutritious foods to those facing hunger in our community.

Learn more by reading our 2023 Impact Report.