About Wake Relief

Established in 1975, Wake Relief is a volunteer organization committed to providing emergency food for Wake County residents in need.  Located in the Saint Saviour's Center at 616 Tucker Street, Wake Relief has always been and continues to be an all volunteer operation with the majority of funds donated used for food.  A board of directors supports volunteer co-chairs. Approximately 85 regular volunteers staff the operation and there is a substitute list of 25 volunteers. Wake Relief is staffed mostly by members of Christ Episcopal and White Memorial Presbyterian Churches, with increasing participation from St. Michael’s Episcopal and First Presbyterian Churches.  The enterprise is made possible by in-kind and monetary donations from area churches, community organizations, schools and individuals. 

Clients referred by Wake County Human Services (WCHS) can be served every 60 days and clients with referrals from other organizations may be served only once per year.  However, these clients are informed that they may return in 60 days with a WCHS referral.  The pantry operates year-round, and is open four days during the week and the fourth Saturday of each month.  Deliveries are on the first Saturday of each month. Triangle Impact, a community service organization of working adults, helps staff deliveries and the fourth Saturday shift.    

Wake Relief maintains a stocked food pantry ready to provide a week’s supply of nutritionally adequate food for its clients, with fresh produce provided by Interfaith Food Shuttle.  The groceries are distributed according to family size, composition, and dietary requirements of the recipients.  Wake Relief works in conjunction with the Wake County Department of Social Services and many other organizations.  We rely on their professional screening procedures to determine the eligibility of clients for the program. Wake Relief volunteers seek to support the dignity and well-being of each family served.   

To better use the funds entrusted to Wake Relief, the Board voted to change grocers from Lowe’s Foods to Aldi.  The data showed that one-third more food could be purchased by using Aldi.  So in September of 2008, our volunteer drivers began picking up the monthly delivery from Aldi on Wake Forest Road .  This move has also saved Wake Relief money in truck rental fees as the drive is shortened to and from the store.