Grace Foods Seeks Donations for Homeless Children in Rutherford

Annie Dance
Oct 10
2 min read

Grace Foods, a nonprofit formed in Chimney Rock, provides meals and supplies to families in need across western North Carolina. They’re asking for the community’s help as the number of homeless children in Rutherford and Polk County continues to rise.

Founder Hilary Yoxall says more than 800 local children are without stable housing, and many families are struggling to find shelter or food.

“We require tents, sleeping bags, and camping equipment,” Yoxall said. “We have over 800 homeless children. This situation is unacceptable. I am asking our community to come together and assist.”

Grace Foods is also seeking donations of shelf-stable milk and nonperishable food items to help feed those who have been displaced.

To help meet the growing need, Grace Foods will hold a fundraiser and food drive on Saturday, October 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lured Market & Grill in Lake Lure.

The event will feature live music, food, games, and community activities, including a cornhole tournament and a “Loose Change Challenge,” where attendees can donate spare change for a chance to win a prize. Grace Foods T-shirts will be available with a $25 donation, and all proceeds will directly support local families.

Nonperishable food, pet food, and monetary donations will be accepted on-site.

A Mission Born from Tragedy

Grace Foods was founded after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure in 2024. Around that same time, Yoxall lost her daughter, Mary, whose online business, Grace Designs, inspired the name of the organization.

“The day after the hurricane, everything felt broken — my world, our town, everything,” Yoxall said. “I asked God, ‘What do I do now?’ And He said, ‘Feed my people.’”

Yoxall began cooking meals for neighbors at the Lake Lure Fire Department and soon connected with World Central Kitchen and Spokes of Hope, who provided hundreds of meals for families in need. With the help of local volunteer and Chimney Rock resident Kim Singer, Grace Foods became a registered nonprofit in February 2025.

Serving Families Across the Foothills

Grace Foods now operates from 5807 NC-9 in Mill Spring, supporting 11 blessing boxes throughout Polk and Rutherford Counties and serving 1,200 to 1,500 people each month, they said. The nonprofit also assists homeless veterans, domestic violence shelters, and low-income families in surrounding counties.

Despite that progress, Yoxall says the need continues to grow as more families face housing instability.

“No child should ever go hungry or sleep outside in our county,” she said. “We’re feeding people, but we’re also reminding them they’re not forgotten.”