Stories

A milestone made possible by our community. Some ingredients are measured in cups and teaspoons. Others are measured in generosity, partnership, and hope.  In June, alongside our friends at the Charlotte Hornets, Nourish Up proudly celebrated the grand opening of the Home Court Kitchen, our new 10,000-square-foot commercial kitchen built to prepare nutritious meals for our Meals on Wheels program.  Made possible through a slam dunk $1 million investment from the Charlotte Hornets Foundation through the Chairman's Legacy Fund, the Home Court Kitchen represents the final ingredient in Hunger Hub, our $22...

On Tuesdays, around lunchtime, Frank listens for a familiar sound.  It's not the arrival of a meal that catches his attention first. It's the sound of the sporty convertible pulling into the driveway.  For a few years now, Frank has received Meals on Wheels through Nourish Up following a recommendation from his physician. As health challenges have made it difficult for him to safely prepare meals on his own, the daily delivery has become an important part of his routine. The meals provide essential nutrition. But for Frank and his family, the daily visit means much more.  "It breaks up long hours of isolation," his wife Whitney shares...

March 3, 2026 Dear Leighton,My name is Courtney. We met last week.I’ve  been thinking about you ever since.You carefully spelled your name for me. You told me about your birthday party — the one where, instead of asking for gifts, you asked your friends to bring food for neighbors at Nourish Up. Then you and your dad drove it all to the Hunger Hub on a Friday afternoon and carried it in yourselves. Leighton,  I’m  not sure I know many grownups who think the way you do. I am so proud of you. It’s  not easy to think about others first — especially when you're turning eight...

By: Kiel Bowen, Partner, Mayer Brown Last November, our Charlotte office turned an ordinary Thursday afternoon into a meaningful act of service through the Supermarket Sweep at the Dilworth Food Lion. Far from a routine grocery trip, the event reflected Mayer Brown’s deep commitment to community impact. Each participant arrived with their own $100 and set out to fill grocery carts with Nourish Up’s most-needed items — essentials like peanut butter, canned vegetables, cereal, pasta, and other staples – while aiming to spend as close to the $100 as possible. The objective was clear: shop strategically, stretch every dollar, and maximize the benefit for neighbors in need...

From left: Courtney Oates, Alenys  Borrás, Ian Burge, Lucy Mitchell, Jennifer Gallagher It started like any other volunteer shift.A group of students from Johnson & Wales University’s College of Food Innovation & Technology arrived at Nourish Up, ready to pack boxes of nonperishable food. They were young, bright-eyed, and full of energy—the kind of energy that fills a room with laughter and camaraderie even when the task is humble. That day, they assembled what we call 7-day boxes: a week’s worth of nutritionally balanced meals, designed to bring dignity, health, and hope to those who need it most...