Local nonprofit taps into community to combat food insecurity
May 25, 2023 04:51PM ● By WNC Business
ASHEVILLE – PubCorps, a local nonprofit founded by entrepreneur John Richardson, relaunched in May of 2023 with a large-scale meal-packing event hosted at The RailYard in Black Mountain, NC. On May 7, 180 volunteers gathered at The RailYard to pack 61,584 shelf-stable meals, which were then distributed to families in need across Western North Carolina by community partner Manna Food Bank. Following the meal-packing event, volunteers enjoyed a free beverage of choice, courtesy of PubCorps. The event stands as a testament to PubCorps' commitment to tackling food insecurity within the region while also building community connections through volunteering.
Richardson founded PubCorps in 2019 with a vision to address the crisis of loneliness sweeping across communities. Recognizing the transformative power of volunteering, Richardson sought to make volunteering simple, accessible, and fun. By combining the act of giving back and sharing a drink with newfound friends, Richardson aimed to create a unique platform that would strengthen human connection while making a tangible impact on the pressing issue of food insecurity in Buncombe County. PubCorps’ launch event on September 15, 2019 drew an impressive 538 volunteers who packed 108,000 meals for families in Western North Carolina. After the event, volunteers gathered to share a beer and a meal, sponsored by Wicked Weed and PubCorps. Unfortunately, in 2020 the pandemic forced PubCorps to pause their large-scale meal-packing events.
During this hiatus, Richardson refined PubCorps’ operations. Recognizing the need for a permanent venue for the organization's meal-packing events, Richardson established The RailYard Blk Mtn, a taproom, restaurant, and community gathering space that opened in April of this year. The RailYard’s 7,000-square-foot building was thoughtfully designed to become the official host of PubCorps' regular meal-packing events. The large open-concept space features five garage doors to allow for multiple meal-packing lines and easy transport of those meals from the building to delivery trucks.
"When planning the relaunch of PubCorps, we knew we had a great idea and the support of our community,” remarked PubCorps founder John Richardson. “Now, with The RailYard as our home, we have the space and resources to make it happen."
The impact of PubCorps' relaunch event extends beyond the impressive number of meals packed. It reaffirms the organization's core missions of creating human-to-human connections and combating hunger within the community. While each mission is commendable on its own, PubCorps’ founding tenets are also intrinsically linked.
“We may not know what the solution is, but we’re willing to buy everybody a beer to talk about it,” Richardson shared. “We’re facilitating that conversation and harnessing the power of our community to make a difference.”
To learn more about PubCorps and the nonprofit’s upcoming events, visit PubCorps.com, connect on social media @PubCorps, or contact Lizzy Markman at [email protected].
About PubCorps:
PubCorps is a community-building initiative that offers turn-key volunteer meetup events to
fundamentally change the way Americans volunteer. The nonprofit aims to combat the crisis of loneliness and strengthen communities through service and a shared drink after volunteering (the drink can be beer, soda, coffee, etc.). To learn more, visit pubcorps.com.
About The RailYard Blk Mtn:
Nestled in the heart of Black Mountain, The RailYard is a gathering space focused on building community and connecting people. The 1.31-acre space features a 7,000-square-foot main building that now holds a taproom serving craft beverages and cocktails, and a 70-foot bar – one of the longest in Buncombe County. The indoor area also features a community space that houses classes and private events, and in the near future a farmers market and more. Outside, you’ll find pop-up and private events, service opportunities, and live music on a huge outdoor stage. Shipping containers placed around the perimeter of the property will house more food and beverage offerings and some exciting surprises. Founded by local community leaders, The RailYard is the home of PubCorps’ large-scale food packing events and exists to serve as a model for nurturing community connection, service, and diversity in Black Mountain, Western North Carolina, and beyond.
Source: PubCorps
Photo Credit: Lindsay Higgins