Bravin Troy's Benefits Solution + Election Results + Food Banks Need You

By Elana Etten | Chapel Hill Insider

Roots and Early Drive

Born in California but raised in Brunswick County, North Carolina, Bravin Troy’s story is rooted in small-town values and big ambitions. After growing up near Wilmington, he headed to Appalachian State University, where his entrepreneurial spark ignited. As president of the Entrepreneurship Club, Bravin immersed himself in building ventures and learning from local business leaders.

During the pandemic, he co-founded a creative startup with a childhood friend—an interactive picture book with interchangeable pages designed to teach storytelling to kids. That project, still in development today, brought him to the Triangle area, where he now lives and works.

Bravin didn’t originally plan to work in insurance. He was drawn to sales for the flexibility and independence it offered, but quickly grew tired of constantly hunting for short-term gigs. When he came across an opportunity with Aflac, he realized it aligned with his passion for helping small businesses.

“I love small businesses,” he said. “Working with family-owned, homegrown companies is what really attracted me to Aflac.”

Bravin signed on with Aflac in April 2024 and has since built a thriving business as an independent agent. Though not a franchise owner, he operates independently, often representing multiple carriers to ensure each client gets the best fit. He attributes his success to believing in what he sells: “You have to sell something you truly believe in.”

FIND OUT HOW BRAVIN HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY →

As Thanksgiving approaches, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Realty is ramping up efforts for its annual "Turkeys for the Triangle" initiative, aiming to provide holiday meals to 6,000 people across the Triangle area who might otherwise go without.

The charitable program, run through the company's HPW Foundation, partners with local food banks, schools, and community organizations to distribute turkeys to families in need throughout Chapel Hill, Chatham County, and surrounding areas.

"We know that this year may be a very difficult year for many people," said Ray Posada, broker in charge at HPW Realty's Chapel Hill office. "We do understand that this is a year where people may have needs that they haven't necessarily had in the past."

This year's effort faces unique obstacles. Due to bird flu outbreaks and supply chain issues, turkeys have become significantly more expensive and harder to source. As a result, HPW will conduct just one turkey delivery this year instead of their typical two.

"Because of bird flu and all kinds of other fun things, turkeys have become really expensive and also not as readily available," Posada explained.

Despite these challenges, the organization remains committed to meeting community needs through partnerships with local institutions, including the CORA Food Bank in Pittsboro and Chatham County Schools.

For Posada, who spent seven years as a teacher before transitioning to real estate—five in South Florida and two in Chatham County—the foundation's work was a major factor in joining HPW Realty.

"I really enjoyed serving my community, and having left the teaching profession, I was looking for ways that I could continue to support the community that I live in," Posada said. "It's one of our agents' favorite events of the year."

The program works through a network of HPW agents who identify families and organizations in need, then personally deliver turkeys. One agent works closely with a Pittsburgh rehabilitation center, while others coordinate with school social workers and food banks to reach families who might otherwise miss out on a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

HPW Foundation funds the turkey initiative through several channels:

Posada noted that the community's support has been crucial, especially as demand increases. Her mother volunteers at the CORA Food Bank and has already observed a significant uptick in families seeking assistance as SNAP benefits have been reduced.

Organizations serving families in need who would like to be considered for turkey distribution can contact Ray Posada directly at 984-843-3133.

The actual distribution begins with a delivery from Butterball Turkeys to HPW's corporate headquarters in Raleigh. Representatives from each office then participate in the "turkey toss"—loading their allotment of turkeys onto trucks, vans, and trailers before returning to local offices for agent-led distribution.

In addition to Turkeys for the Triangle, HPW Foundation also hosts "Pitch Out for the Cure" each spring, a barbecue fundraiser supporting UNC's Lineberger Cancer Institute.

For more information or to contribute to this year's turkey drive, visit turkeysforthetriangle.com.

The Chapel Hill Insider is committed to covering community organizations making a difference in our area. To share your story, contact our newsroom.

🎨 Orange County Artists Open Studio Tour | Nov 8-9
Various locations around Orange County
Over 100 artists open their studios to show where and how they create. Saturdays 10 AM-5 PM, Sundays 12-5 PM. Free. Perfect for holiday shopping and supporting local art.

Fool's Faire Renaissance Festival | Saturday, Nov 8
Pluck Farm
Think turkey legs, jousting, and costumes. The annual event returns with all the medieval merriment you'd expect.

Sculpture in the Garden | Ongoing through Dec 7
NC Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Road
FREE self-guided tour
Fifty North Carolina artists have placed sculptures throughout the botanical garden's grounds. The fall color provides the perfect backdrop. This is the 37th year of the exhibition.

Sunday, November 9

The Bazaar
Carrboro
Shop handmade goods from over 30 local makers, grab food and treats, and get fairy hair and face painting. It's the kind of eclectic, creative gathering that makes Carrboro, well, Carrboro.

Carrboro CD and Record Show
Carrboro Century Center
42 tables of new and used CDs, vinyl records, and music memorabilia. If you still believe album art matters and liner notes are worth reading, this is your Sunday destination.

Storytelling Under the Stars
Morehead Planetarium
UNC students perform cosmic stories paired with stunning celestial imagery. It's spoken word meets the night sky—an unexpectedly magical combination.

Flyleaf Books Second Sunday Poetry Series
Flyleaf Books
Hear excerpts from Lola Haskins and Maureen Sherbondy's latest works, then stick around for open mic. Bring your own poems if you're feeling brave.

Tuesday night brought the kind of clarity that local elections rarely deliver. By 9:20 PM, all votes were counted, and Chapel Hill and Carrboro had chosen their next generation of leadership.

In Chapel Hill, newcomer Louie Rivers III led the pack with 5,177 votes, edging out fellow newcomer Wes McMahon by just 76 votes. Rivers, who built his campaign around severe weather preparedness—a topic that resonates after recent storms—expressed gratitude that voters "took a chance" on him. McMahon, already serving on the planning commission, brings his focus on parks, greenways, and economic development to the council.

The two incumbents keeping their seats tell different stories of continuity. Camille Berry continues her work on affordable housing after her first term, while Paris Miller-Foushee rounds out the four-member team. Mayor Jess Anderson, running unopposed, secured another term.

Carrboro's race looked different—three candidates, three seats. Incumbents Cristóbal Palmer and Danny Nowell will return, joined by Fred Joiner, the town's poet laureate. If you've attended an Orange County Arts Commission meeting, you've probably seen Joiner's work firsthand. He's bringing "smarter, climate-resistant development" into his council priorities, along with creative problem-solving inspired by other towns.

Mayor Barbara Foushee won reelection with 95.75% of the vote in what was essentially a coronation.

The new councils take office in December. If there's a throughline in these results, it's this: voters want leaders who understand that growth and character preservation aren't opposites—they're tensions to be managed thoughtfully.

The statistics tell one story: nearly 20% of Orange County children live in poor or low-income households. But the organizations responding tell another—one of neighbors helping neighbors without bureaucracy or judgment.

PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro moved over 415,000 pounds of fresh food last year to 600+ families. They work through neighborhood coordinators who collect donations monthly, volunteers who sort, and a network that ensures food reaches both families and pantries. If you live in Chapel Hill or Carrboro, there's likely a PORCH neighborhood near you collecting donations.

Inter-Faith Council's Community Market operates as a member-choice pantry, meaning families shop for themselves rather than receiving preset bags. It's a dignity-preserving model. Located at 110 W Main Street in Carrboro, they're open by appointment Monday-Friday. Call 919-929-6380 to schedule pickup. They're currently accepting donations Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm at their loading dock.

TABLE Ministries takes a different approach—delivering healthy food and fresh produce directly to homes with children ages 0-20. No pickup required. They're at 311 E Main St in Carrboro (919-636-4860).

All three accept both food and financial donations. With the holiday season approaching, these organizations will see increased demand as they do every year. The difference? This year, they're starting from an already elevated baseline of need.

How to help:
Financial donations stretch furthest (food banks buy wholesale). Non-perishables always needed. Fresh produce and proteins make the biggest impact on nutrition. Or volunteer—sorting and delivery always need hands.

Housing Decisions on the Horizon
Orange County Commissioners meet Thursday at 7 PM to consider allocating $54,000 from the Social Justice Reserve to local hunger-relief organizations. They'll also discuss a zoning application for 49 lots on 78 acres off NC-86 north of Hillsborough.

Chatham County Eyes Major Development
The Vickers Village housing proposal off Jack Bennett Road heads to commissioners this week. The development would add significant housing north of Pittsboro.

Hillsborough Infrastructure Continues
Accessibility improvements on North Churton Street downtown are moving forward with sidewalk demolition and reconstruction. Expect construction vehicles between West King Street and Brick Alley for several more weeks.

Know someone doing meaningful work in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, or the surrounding area? Reply to this email and tell us their story. We're always looking for the next local business or nonprofit to spotlight.

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