Above: The Savor Food Truck made an appearance at the Catholic Charities Gala Nov. 8, 2025 in Raleigh.
Catholic Charities uses innovative approach to tackle food insecurity
Catholic Charities has a big goal. They’re upgrading services to be more accessible (think: expanded services), educational (think: gardening and recipes) and sustainable (think: income from a new source). They want to not only provide food through pantries and mobile pantries but provide food that nourishes bodies and minds for a healthy life.
The Nourishing Our Neighbors campaign is in full stride, and you may have seen part of it on the road, at a festival or in your parish parking lot after Mass. The Savor Food Truck is up and running and its profits go toward sustaining Catholic Charities’ mobile food pantries.
Savor specializes in wholesome ingredients that customers use to build their own bowls or choose one, such as Tex-Mex or Ahi Tuna Poke, from the menu. Those who helped create the concept see it as a food truck with a purpose, where every order is part of a solution to food insecurity.
Some of the food prep for Savor happens in the food truck, of course, but the endeavor also calls for a commercial kitchen space for preparation and storage. That’s where St. Francis of Assisi Parish, and The Franciscan School, came in.
It was important that school lunches, the afterschool care program and parish events — which all utilized the kitchen — could continue to function alongside Catholic Charities’ Savor Food Truck operations.
For Catholic Charities, it was important to have commercial sinks, cooking supplies, adequate freezer space and other essentials. After planning and some changes to the space, including adding cabinets, the two groups are sharing space and experiencing positive outcomes.
“TFS staff have been beyond welcoming, incredibly helpful, and so patient with us as we navigate our prep in their kitchen. Having a supportive space to create our menus makes all the difference in the food we serve,” said Jackie Adams, Savor’s general manager.
In addition to an improved kitchen space for all, the community at St. Francis can see the Savor Food Truck and its team on campus. Students have learned about Catholic Charities’ work and seen a partnership modeled. The school has hired Savor to cater lunch for a professional workday. And Savor did a fish fry, and sold Easter cakes to families.
NC Catholics caught up with some supporters who are helping Nourishing Our Neighbors get rolling. Read their stories to learn the why and how.
People in the neighborhood
Jane and Pete von Jess
There’s a Bible verse in Luke, chapter 12, that reads: Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.
“That’s where my heart and my mind resonate, and same with my wife,” said Pete von Jess, a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army and current business leader. He and his wife, Jane, belong to St. Mary Magdalene Parish and she volunteers at NeighborUp as a financial counselor.
He came to know Catholic Charities through his affiliation with the local Legatus chapter, where he came to know Jim Baker, who co-chairs Nourishing Our Neighbors with Karen Swoboda.
They toured food pantries and warehouses and talked about food trucks and mobile food pantries. “Because I am a logistics guy, we talked a little bit about how things connect and move and inventory flow and all those kinds of things,” von Jess said.
He offered his input in NON’s planning phases, and he and his wife wanted to make a large gift because Nourishing Our Neighbors not only aims to educate people about nutritious food but also looks to make sure people don’t go hungry.
“If everybody would give a little bit, we would keep those food pantries properly stocked and the program itself staffed so that it can distribute the goods that need to be distributed,” he said.
Father Javier Castrejon Flores
Father Javier Castrejon Flores has already seen the impact of Nourishing Our Neighbors at his mission church, San Juan Diego in Robbins, which has hosted the mobile food pantry and helped coordinate distribution.
“We were truly blessed to be the first parish in the Fayetteville Deanery to partner with the Nourishing Our Neighbors mobile food pantry. This collaboration has been a tremendous gift to our community,” he said. “As pastor, what moved me most deeply to engage in this initiative was the concrete need I witnessed among our people. Many of our families face economic hardship, yet they remain full of faith and generosity. This partnership allowed us to respond not only to their spiritual needs, but also to their very real human needs. It reflects the Gospel in action.”
About 50 families have been consistently served, he added, and the program has been a source of grace.
“Our parishioners … several have even told me that this is how they believe Jesus himself would act — meeting people where they are with compassion and dignity,” said Father Javier.
Lionel Randolph, Jr.
Lionel Randolph, Jr. likes a targeted approach. Maybe it’s because of his professional background in engineering and project management. Maybe it’s because he’s seen how it works in his role as chairman of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors.
Randolph believes Nourishing our Neighbors is an innovative way to address food insecurity and help Catholic Charities serve more people. And what he’s cheering for is a full calendar for Savor Food Truck, which will offer visibility to the campaign and revenue.
“Profit is not a dirty word. We accept it and use it as a vehicle to support campaign goals,” he said. “Our food pantries are seeing an increase in need. Last summer’s review of Catholic Parish Outreach [a Catholic Charities food pantry in Raleigh] showed a 35 percent increase in the number of people served. We are human beings and we need food for physical and mental health. A child who is nourished can go to school focused; an adult who is nourished can work more effectively.”
Margie and Mark Dellasega
Mark Dellasega is a retired gastroenterologist. His wife Margie is a retired nurse and retired teacher at St. Peter School in Greenville. They support Nourishing our Neighbors, they said, because the long-term solution of helping clients receive and learn more about the benefits of nutritious food, including produce.
It’s not only their professional lives that helped shape their actions. The pair is also involved with the Catholic Charities food pantry in their hometown of Greenville, where they are members at St. Peter. She spends Tuesdays helping prepare bags at the traditional food pantry; he helps coordinate drivers who deliver food to about 25 homes for the mobile food pantry.
“It’s like anything good,” he smiled. “You get more out of it than what you put into it.”
Mark, who also served on the Catholic Charities Board of Directors, said the experience has opened his eyes to the cycle of poverty and the ways he and his wife can help support those who are in need.
They encourage people to donate to NoN, and to get involved and learn about what Catholic Charities is doing.
Learn more
Learn more about The Savor Food Truck!
Learn more about Nourishing Our Neighbors! Donate, meet the leaders and watch as Catholic Charities’ Chief Executive Officer Lisa Perkins describes the most innovative program of her 17-year tenure.
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