In late September, Hatteras Island Meals, Inc. was awarded a 2024 Coastal Inspiration Award by Coastal AARP NC. The ceremony took place in the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington.

Hatteras Island Meals delivers nearly 9,000 meals annually to clients in every village on Hatteras Island. Every donation counts and helps fulfill the organization’s mission.

That mission is “to serve anyone on Hatteras Island who is unable to prepare nutritious meals, has no one to help with meal preparation, requires short term assistance while recovering from an illness or medical condition or needs long term meals.”

The award dedication reads:

“Hatteras Island Meals (HIM) has been stalwart in its dedication and resolve in serving and helping neighbors who would otherwise go overlooked.

“Their mission has always been to serve anyone on Hatteras Island who has difficulty accessing food, is unable to or has no help with preparing nutritious means, requires short-term assistance while recovering from an illness or medical condition, or needs help with meals over the long term to help ensure their food and nutritional security while allowing them to remain in their homes safely and with dignity.

“Hatteras Island Meals delivers balanced and nutritious mid-day meals to clients 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year,

“HIM is an all-volunteer staffed, donation-funded, home-grown organization born of need to assist folks in a rather remote and vulnerable community. Meal preparation is contracted through local restaurants, picked-up and delivered by volunteers, and there is never a cost to clients. A friendly and familiar face also provides an invaluable in-home visit, wellness check and a few minutes of conversation.”

This time of year, the organization is conducting its annual raffle. Numerous Hatteras Island businesses have donated items to the baskets. The raffle concluded Oct. 12, 2024 with the drawing of winning tickets.

This organization’s start goes back to 1987. Betty Barnett, reflecting on the care she gave her elderly mother, started the program by cooking meals in her kitchen for five people on Hatteras Island. The program was then called Hatteras Island Adult Care.

To donate to Hatteras Island Meals electronically, go to hatterasislandmeals.org or find HatterasIslandMeals on Facebook. To donate by mail, send checks to Hatteras Island Meals, P.O. Box 854, Buxton, NC 27920.

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