Clay County in western North Carolina is home to a number of nonprofit organizations devoted to helping the community. One of these is Matt’s Ministry, which is supported by a dedicated group of core volunteers and local church supporters.
Matt’s provides a choice-based food pantry every Saturday morning, where clients select the food items they need, serving hundreds of local families each week. The organization also offers deliveries to homebound residents and seniors, as well as weekend meal bags for local students.
As demand for these services continues to grow, Matt’s Ministry has stepped up to meet the challenge. Thanks in part to a 2025 grant of $25,000 from the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund, the ministry has been able to expand both its food offerings and its food handling facility. On a typical Saturday morning, the appreciation of clients is evident as they browse a selection of meats, breads, canned goods, fresh vegetables and essential home care items.
“We truly appreciate the donations we receive that keep our ministry going. The large grant from NCCF definitely makes a difference,” noted Maggie Butler.
In addition to supporting Matt’s Ministry, NCCF awarded major grants through its Disaster Relief Fund to several other local groups supporting long-term recovery following Hurricane Helene, including the Clay County Food Pantry, Hinton Rural Life Center, Tri-County Community College, and Clay County Fire and Rescue.
Clockwise from top left: Shelves at Matt’s Ministry, fresh produce, canned goods and bread.
About the Clay County Community Foundation and how to get involved
The Clay County Community Foundation (CCCF) is a local affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Led by a volunteer board of residents, CCCF works to build permanent charitable endowments and award annual grants to local nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, schools and churches.
This content is sourced from
North Carolina Community Foundation
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
