A newly unveiled “smart food locker” system at Food Bank of the Albemarle allows anyone to order groceries online free of charge and discreetly retrieve them when convenient.
The locker system, located at 109 Tidewater Way in front of the Food Bank Neighborhood Hub, is the first of its kind in the state, according to the food bank. It has a black and orange exterior, a digital touchpad and 16 climate-controlled compartments where individual orders of produce, dairy and shelf-stable items are stored.
Founded in 1981, Food Bank of the Albemarle is a nonprofit serving 15 counties in northeastern North Carolina. Food bank staff were joined by Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce officials and other community partners in celebrating a ribbon-cutting for the smart locker Tuesday.
Liz Reasoner, the food bank’s chief executive officer, said private grocery pickup removes barriers and stigma associated with food bank visits and improves food access for people with busy or conflicting schedules. The locker system, she added, was made possible through $70,000 donated by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and an anonymous donor.
“While many families in our region continue to face food insecurity and too many of them are uncertain about where their next meal will come from, today’s unveiling represents a meaningful step forward [in] breaking down barriers to food access,” she said. “This locker represents more than just technology and infrastructure. It’s a symbol of innovation, collaboration and collective effort to meet people where they are, providing a dignified and convenient way for families to receive the food they need.”
With the existing Neighborhood Hub Food Pantry open only four days a week, the new locker provides around-the-clock access in an area where transportation and work are frequently cited barriers, said Justine Koskal, FBA’s chief operating officer.
“Our pantry is open four days a week, but it’s not 24 hours,” Koskal said. “[Factoring in] how hard it is for us to get to the grocery store sometimes, if we work a late night, pick up kids from school or care for a sick neighbor … we wanted to make food more accessible to those we serve.”
Here’s how the locker system works:
To order groceries for pickup, visit orderahead.org and click “Get Started” in the bottom right corner, which brings up a ZIP code prompt. Enter a Pasquotank County ZIP code (ZIP codes from surrounding counties do not currently show results). The site will then display a “Neighborhood Hub Food Locker” listing of dates and time windows so users can pick up groceries on their own schedule. The website then provides a PIN to enter on the locker’s touchpad.
Jenny Thompson, senior programs manager for FBA, demonstrated the system shortly after the ribbon cutting Tuesday. She entered a code generated from the Order Ahead website on the touchpad, and a locker compartment promptly popped open with food inside.
Thompson worked closely with community partners on a small pilot to launch the project, including Sentara, Albemarle Regional Health Services and the Pasquotank Outreach Support Team.
Sara Foreman, nutrition director for ARHS, said her organization screens for food insecurity and makes referrals to the food bank. She expressed high hopes for the smart locker’s success.
“When the food bank approached us about piloting this program for a soft launch, we were excited,” Foreman said. “We have seen that when our nurses and practitioners [are] doing visits, or in the office, and they have a patient identified with food insecurity, and that patient says they can’t get to the food bank, they’ve been able to whip out their phones and pull up the website. [We’ve received] great feedback from our providers, who are thrilled to be able to give real access to resources, and from our patients, who love the convenience.”
Brian Gray, chief communications and public policy officer for FBA, spoke about the importance of partnerships with both businesses and area farmers to maintain a consistent flow of food, especially as logistical costs rise.
During a private tour, Gray opened the doors to an industrial-scale warehouse. At first glance, it appears to hold enough food to last for ages.
“That’s what a lot of people think when they see this [area], but this food is in and out,” Gray said. “A lot of these racks should be filled. The cost of fuel and the cost of food affects people coming in to get food, and it affects us as well.”
Proteins are the hardest to stock and acquire, Gray said. Perdue recently donated 29,000 pounds of chicken to FBA, but donations that large are not routine, and they run out quickly.
“We have a good working partnership with those businesses,” he said. “Food Lion [and] Publix provide a lot of resources as well.”
One area farmer supplies a large amount of produce through a partnership with FBA. Jimmy Mizzel of Bertie County plants 35 acres for the food bank, which yields half a million pounds of produce annually.
“We distributed seven million meals last year, and fresh produce is 50% to 60% of [that] distribution,” Gray said.
Dining and Cooking