Kinston Teens Joins Forces with MrBeast and Safeway to Tackle Food Insecurity in Eastern North Carolina

KINSTON, NC - Kinston Teens, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to youth empowerment and community development, is thrilled to announce a successful partnership with philanthropist and YouTube sensation MrBeast, along with Safeway, a subsidiary of Albertsons Companies. This collaboration has resulted in a significant contribution to the fight against food insecurity in Eastern North Carolina.

MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is renowned for his viral philanthropic challenges on YouTube. His latest endeavor, "Survive in a Grocery Store," involved a contestant living inside a Safeway grocery store for multiple days, with the goal of winning $10,000 for each day of survival. The twist was that the contestant had to choose $10,000 worth of products daily to donate to local charities.

Kinston Teens emerged as one of the beneficiaries of this extraordinary partnership. The organization received tens of thousands of dollars in groceries and essential items as part of the project.

Kinston Teens Founder and Executive Director Chris Suggs expressed his gratitude, stating, "We are immensely thankful for the generosity of MrBeast and Safeway. Eastern North Carolina, particularly East Kinston, faces significant challenges related to food insecurity. This partnership allowed us to address these critical issues by providing essential resources to our community."

East Kinston is home to North Carolina's most economically distressed census tract and is designated as a food desert by US Department of Agriculture standards. Kinston Teens has been actively engaged in tackling food insecurity throughout the region, and this collaboration significantly enhanced their efforts.

Thanks to the project's generosity, Kinston Teens distributed groceries to hundreds of families in Kinston, replenished the organization’s Blessing Box and Community Pantry, supplied snacks to multiple classrooms in Lenoir County Public Schools, and extended support to organizations like Friends of the Homeless Shelter and Hands for Humanity Food Bank.

The "Survive in a Grocery Store" video, featured on the MrBeast YouTube channel and translated into 14 languages worldwide, showcases the immense impact that philanthropy and community collaboration can have in addressing critical local challenges.

To support Kinston Teens’ ongoing efforts to empower youth and build resilient communities, please visit www.kinstonteens.org/give.

About Kinston Teens:

Kinston Teens is a youth-led, community-based nonprofit organization in Kinston, North Carolina. Founded in 2014 by Chris Suggs, Kinston Teens focuses on youth empowerment, community development, and civic engagement. The organization provides a platform for young people to create positive change through various initiatives, including education, civic participation, leadership development, and addressing community needs.