For two decades, The Shalom Project has been a place of hope for Winston-Salem residents facing food insecurity, healthcare challenges, and financial hardship. As the nonprofit celebrates its 20th anniversary and settles into a new home, Executive Director Monique Farrell said the mission remains as vital as ever.
“The Shalom Project walks alongside our Winston-Salem neighbors, meeting essential needs like food and healthcare while helping people build more stable, connected lives,” Monique said. “Together, we are creating a more equitable community where everyone belongs and is treated with dignity.”
That commitment is reflected in the organization’s name. While “shalom” is often translated as peace, Monique said its meaning runs much deeper.
“Shalom represents completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace. We see each person we serve as a full person. We care about the food on their table, their medical and mental health, financial stability, and overall well-being, commented Monique.
Over the past 20 years, The Shalom Project has become one of the area’s longest-running food pantries and developed a free medical clinic and pharmacy that removes barriers to care. The organization also played a key role in the acquisition and demolition of the former Budget Inn on Peters Creek Parkway, helping pave the way for affordable housing that opened last fall.
Meeting Changing Needs
Today, the needs of the community continue to evolve.
“The need for our services seems to change weekly these days,” Monique stated.
Recent interruptions in SNAP benefits, rising food and gas prices, healthcare funding concerns, and economic uncertainty have increased pressure on many local families. Transportation costs alone can prevent people from accessing needed services.
Every Tuesday, The Shalom Project’s food pantry serves approximately 80 households through partnerships with organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Wake Forest University’s Campus Kitchen. The pantry also distributes USDA foods through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
Meanwhile, the organization’s Medical Clinic and Pharmacy continue to provide healthcare access for uninsured and low-income residents. Last year alone, the clinic filled more than 2,700 prescriptions, providing medications valued at approximately $3.8 million based on average wholesale pricing.
Another cornerstone program is Flourish, a year-long initiative that combines financial education and mental health support for women seeking greater financial stability. A second cohort, Florecer, serves Spanish-speaking Latina women in Forsyth County.
A New Home for a Growing Mission
As the organization enters its third decade, it is doing so from a new home.
After 20 years at Green Street United Methodist Church, The Shalom Project recently moved into its own facility, allowing programs to expand and operate more efficiently.
“Our pantry is now laid out more efficiently, with accessibility being a clear priority,” Monique said. “Flourish also has a dedicated classroom and childcare space that better suits the work we are doing.”
The move has been embraced by the community. Through an Amazon Housewarming Party and a spring open house, supporters donated everything from cleaning supplies to décor, helping transform the building into a welcoming space.
“We were overwhelmed by the love, generosity, and shared excitement we felt,” stated Monique.
The new location also provides opportunities for future community meals, conversations, and gatherings that bring people together in meaningful ways.
The Coolest Fundraiser of the Summer
That same spirit of community will be on full display during The Big Chill, the nonprofit’s signature fundraiser, scheduled for July.
The event features “Cold Callers” who sit on blocks of ice while raising donations from friends and family. Once they meet their fundraising goals, they can finally get off the ice. Attendees also enjoy homemade ice cream prepared by local churches and community organizations, voting for their favorites through donations.
This year’s event will be hosted by Knollwood Baptist Church and organizers hope to raise more than $60,000 to support The Shalom Project’s programs.
“The Big Chill is a wonderful entry point to The Shalom Project and all we do,” Monique commented. “It’s a fun event that also connects to our mission and commitment to shalom.”
In addition to ice cream and fundraising, organizers are planning local entertainment and a few surprises to help celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Looking ahead, Monique envisions expanded wraparound services, additional community partnerships, and new opportunities for the organization’s facility to serve as a gathering place for neighbors.
“There is hope and there is help,” Monique said. “We believe we are here to take care of each other, and we know our community does too.”
For Monique, that hope is rooted in the volunteers, donors, staff, and clients who make the work possible every day.
“In the midst of everything going on around us, there is still a core desire to help others and treat those around us with dignity and compassion,” stated Monique. “That gives me tremendous hope for the future.”
As The Shalom Project celebrates 20 years of service, one thing remains unchanged: its commitment to creating a community where everyone is welcomed, valued, and given the opportunity to flourish.
For more information on The Shalom Project, visit www.theshalomprojectnc.org. or call 336.721.0606.
