In Scotland County, North Carolina, a quiet but powerful effort is taking place each school week—one that helps underserved children return to school on Monday nourished, focused, and ready to learn.
At the center of that effort is Project In As Much of Laurinburg, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding school-aged children who may go hungry or miss nutrients over the weekend.
A Simple Idea That Became a Lifeline
What began decades ago as a small act of compassion has grown into a countywide safety net for low-income residents with school-aged children.
Project In As Much prepares and distributes paper food bags filled with non-perishable nutritious food items to students across all 13 public schools in Scotland County.
Each Friday, these bags are sent home with children identified by school staff and social workers as needing extra support, ensuring they have nutritious food when school meals are not available.
Programs like this help local children who depend on school meals, leaving weekends uncertain for some. All students in Scotland County get free meals, with some eating up to 40 meals monthly at school. However, these meals aren’t always available after school. The nonprofit Project In As Much addresses this need regularly and respectfully.
Community-Funded, Volunteer-Driven
The organization operates entirely through grants, donated funds and community support, using those contributions to purchase food that volunteers then sort, pack, and deliver. A small but dedicated group of volunteers comes together weekly to prepare the bags. Their work reflects a deeply rooted community commitment: neighbors helping neighbors, one bag at a time.
Since its founding, the nonprofit has provided tens of thousands of food bags annually, growing from just a few dozen each week to over a thousand currently. Over time, the organization has served large numbers of food bags to economically disadvantaged children throughout the county.
Leadership Rooted in Service
Guiding the program is Mrs. Brenda Hartis, a Laurinburg native who has been involved with Project In As Much since its early days and now volunteers to serve as its executive director alongside a Board of Directors.
Brenda works closely with school social workers and staff, responding not only to hunger but also to broader needs. Her leadership reflects a hands-on, compassionate approach, grounded in long-standing relationships within the community, schools, and churches.
More Than a Meal
At the Carolina Cuisine Network, we celebrate food traditions, ingredients, and people that nourish our Carolina communities. Sometimes, though, the most important food story is not about a tasty recipe. Food culture is not only about what appears on the table, but whether a child has food on the table at all.
While the weekly food bags are the most visible part of the program, the mission runs deeper. Project In As Much exists to ensure that children facing food insecurity can thrive without the burden of hunger.
The initiative also reminds the broader community of a powerful truth: when children are nourished, they’re being shown love. Each paper food bag has a hand-written message that says “Jesus Loves You” to remind them of the unconditional love of the Lord.
A Local Solution to a Widespread Challenge
Food insecurity remains a significant issue in many counties across the Carolina’s, where many residents struggle to meet basic needs.
Programs like Project In As Much demonstrate how grassroots efforts can deliver meaningful impact, reaching children directly through schools and trusted relationships.
Each bag packed in Laurinburg, NC represents more than food—it represents stability, care, a reminder of God’s love, and the promise of a better start to the week.
If this story moves you, here’s one local way to help, call the director Mrs. Brenda Hartis @ (910) 280-1986 Tuesday-Friday 9am-6pm
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