From the lunch table to a national movement, Christine Cotton G’02 used her Elon MBA to build PORCH Communities into a nonprofit that has provided more than $15 million in hunger relief since 2010.
Sometimes the smallest question sparks the biggest change.
When Christine Cotton G’02 asked her son why he kept requesting extra sandwiches for lunch, his response revealed a problem she didn’t know existed in her own community.
“At first, I thought he was just a hungry middle schooler,” Cotton said. “But when I asked, I learned he was sharing them with a friend who didn’t have enough food. That was the moment I knew I had to do something.”
Wanting to make a difference, Cotton and two friends asked neighbors to leave cans of tuna on their porches for pickup. The response was immediate and overwhelming. “We realized that everyone wants to help,” she said. “They just don’t always know how.”
That simple idea grew into PORCH Communities, a hunger relief nonprofit that now reaches across the country.
The model is easy to replicate: once a month, neighbors leave requested items on their porches, volunteers collect them and deliver directly to local pantries.
“It’s so simple, but it’s effective,” Cotton said. “We’re not creating new pantries. We’re strengthening the ones that already exist.”
As PORCH began to expand, Cotton drew on her Elon MBA to guide its growth. “My MBA gave me the strategic thinking skills to scale,” she said. “I can look at our finances, fundraising and marketing, and know how to manage them because of my time at Elon. It gave me the confidence to walk into any room and know I can lead.”
Those lessons continue to shape her leadership more than two decades later.
“What I learned at Elon shows up in my work every day,” Cotton said. “It is the foundation of how I lead PORCH now.”
The results of that approach show in the numbers.
In 2024, PORCH launched 27 new chapters, engaged more than 18,000 volunteer hours and donated over 1 million pounds of food. That impact reached 242 pantries, schools and partners across 13 states, adding up to $2.43 million in hunger relief last year and more than $15 million since the first porch pickup.
“We can’t solve poverty,” Cotton said. “But we can disrupt the cycle of hunger. A child who has enough to eat can focus in school, and that changes everything.”
Cotton said what excites her most is watching others take ownership of the mission. “The most rewarding part for me has been seeing how many people step up once they are given the tools,” she said. “It shows what’s possible when neighbors come together.”
Community voices
- “PORCH has been unfailing in keeping Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard going. The steady donations from local chapters have truly kept us off ‘life support.’” — Roxann Lansdowne, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, Wilmington, N.C.
- “Thanks to our PORCH partners, we receive regular donations that keep our shelves stocked year-round. That consistency helps us manage both our workload and our budget, which ultimately means we can feed more families. This has never been more important, as we’re serving far more clients than even a year ago.” — Sara Haggar, Holly Springs Food Cupboard, Holly Springs, N.C.
- “PORCH has made it possible for us to put healthy food on more tables. Their generosity stretches our resources and strengthens our ability to serve our community.” — Mike Claxton, The Lord’s Food Pantry, Shallotte, N.C.
- “We joined PORCH to give back to our community, but in the end, we’re the ones who benefit. From the people we’ve met to the inspiring volunteers we work alongside, the experience has been truly rewarding.” — Dian Lissoos, Volunteer Chapter Leader, PORCH Indy, Indianapolis
The same son whose kindness helped spark PORCH also chose Elon University. Matthew Cotton ’18 grew up walking around Lake Mary Nell and feeding the ducks with his parents, and when it came time for college, he wanted that same sense of community.
He graduated with a business degree, plus a minor in sport management, and now works with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. “Matthew spent years watching PORCH grow, and now he’s carrying forward that same commitment to service in his own career,” she said.
As PORCH looks to the future, Cotton hopes to double the number of neighborhoods involved while keeping the grassroots feel that has defined the organization since its earliest days.
“We want to put a PORCH in every community,” she said. “The idea started with a few sandwiches, but it has grown into something much bigger. That is the power of neighbors helping neighbors.”
Cotton asks everyone to consider starting a PORCH where they live. “It’s amazing what happens when a few cans from a few neighbors come together,” Cotton said. “Getting started is simple, and once it begins, the ripple effect is powerful—families are fed, neighbors are connected, and communities are transformed.”