Piedmont Natural Gas distributes nearly $60,000 in Duke Energy Foundation grants to three Charlotte-area nonprofits addressing food access and affordable housing

Piedmont Natural Gas just handed out nearly $60,000 in grants to three Charlotte-area nonprofits tackling two of the region’s toughest ongoing problems: hunger and housing insecurity. The money flows through the Duke Energy Foundation and lands with Nourish Up, Feeding Charlotte, and Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity — all three working across Mecklenburg County and nearby communities to keep families fed and stably housed.

Three organizations receive targeted grant funding

Each grant fills a specific gap in Charlotte’s social safety net. Nourish Up gets $20,000 to expand its food pantry network and grocery delivery program. That money buys roughly 80,000 pounds of food — enough to reach an estimated 4,000 families, or 12,000 residents, across Mecklenburg County during the summer months.

Feeding Charlotte received $19,000 to grow its Food Rescue Program across Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Cabarrus counties. The program pulls surplus food from professional kitchens and redirects it to nonprofit feeding programs. Instead of letting usable food go to waste, Feeding Charlotte turns kitchen overflow into community meals.

Funding both issues at once reflects an understanding that hunger and housing aren’t separate problems—they’re usually tangled together.

Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity gets a $20,000 grant supporting affordable homeownership, home repairs, and neighborhood revitalization in southeastern Mecklenburg — specifically Matthews, Mint Hill, and Stallings. The aim is straightforward: help low-income families stay safely housed and build something durable.

Why Piedmont Natural Gas directed funds to hunger and housing

Piedmont Natural Gas moves its community investment through the Duke Energy Foundation, which distributes nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic grants across Duke Energy service areas. That money comes from Duke Energy shareholders — not from customer ratepayers.

Sasha Weintraub, President of Piedmont Natural Gas, put it plainly. “No one, whether they’re a child or an adult, should have to worry about where their next meal will come from or if they’ll have a safe, stable roof over their head,” she said. “When people’s basic needs are met, our communities become stronger.”

The timing on the food grants isn’t random. Summer creates a real gap in food access because school meal programs — a lifeline for kids during the academic year — simply aren’t available from June through August. Families who depend on those programs face a shortfall, and organizations like Nourish Up and Feeding Charlotte exist to close it.

Housing insecurity runs on a different timeline but carries the same weight. Stable housing shapes everything from kids’ school performance to adults’ ability to hold steady work. Funding both issues at once reflects an understanding that hunger and housing aren’t separate problems—they’re usually tangled together.

Expected outcomes for grant recipients

The numbers are specific. Nourish Up expects to reach 12,000 residents across Mecklenburg County with healthy food during the summer gap—a real scale for a single grant cycle, targeting one of the most vulnerable stretches of the year for food-insecure families.

Feeding Charlotte’s expanded Food Rescue Program will deepen its reach across three counties. By pulling more surplus food from professional kitchens and routing it to nonprofit feeding programs, the organization cuts food waste and increases supply simultaneously — turning an inefficiency into an actual resource.

Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity will use its grant to expand both homeownership opportunities and repair services. For families already in homes, critical repairs can mean the difference between staying housed and facing displacement. For those not yet homeowners, expanded programs open a path toward long-term stability in southeastern Mecklenburg.

Leaders at all four organizations pointed to the ongoing nature of their relationships with Piedmont. Tina Postel, CEO of Nourish Up, called Piedmont “an exceptional partner” and said the investment “strengthens families and builds a healthier, more resilient Charlotte.” Richard Armenia, Executive Director of Feeding Charlotte, described the relationship as “one we’re extremely proud of.” Natisha Rivera, President and CEO of Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity, framed the grant as part of a continued commitment to the families her organization serves.

Background: Piedmont Natural Gas and the Duke Energy Foundation

Piedmont Natural Gas is a Duke Energy subsidiary, delivering natural gas to more than one million residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. As a regional utility, it operates across many of the same communities these nonprofits work in every day.

The Duke Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm behind these grants, distributing nearly $30 million per year to communities across Duke Energy’s service areas—funded entirely by company shareholders.

This isn’t a one-time move. All three recipient organizations noted the ongoing nature of their partnerships with Piedmont, pointing to a sustained funding relationship rather than a single transaction.

To sum it up: Piedmont Natural Gas, through the Duke Energy Foundation, directed nearly $60,000 to Nourish Up, Feeding Charlotte, and Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity. The grants target hunger during the summer food access gap and long-term housing stability across Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas. All funding comes from Duke Energy shareholders, and all three partnerships were already in place before this grant cycle.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.