The Campaign for The Lord’s Food Pantry

April 2025

​
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink… Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink?’... Jesus will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25
 

It’s impossible to escape the high cost of living today. We buy groceries, pay the electric bill, put gas in our cars, fill prescriptions and pay the rent. Inflation and rising costs quickly deplete our wallets every week. Now, imagine how you’d live on a fixed retirement or disability income or adjust to being paid a low hourly wage or having only part time work. Many of our neighbors are a single illness or unexpected event away from a situation that can push them over the edge and even further behind economically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

​

Susan and her partner moved to Sunset Beach at the start of Summer 2024. She found work at a local golf course. Fall came, the pair split up, and her hours were severely cut. Suddenly she could not pay her rent or her utility bills and could not put food on the table. In the past, she had been one who helped others; now she found help at TLFP.

​

Mary, an elderly neighbor of TLFP came over to talk to pantry volunteers. Mary was recently widowed, had only a part-time job, and was finding it difficult to make ends meet. She was also facing six weeks out of work to heal from surgery. Mary could not ask her children for help because she was afraid they would force her to move. TLFP was able to help Mary bridge the gap and retain her independence and her dignity.

 

Since 1981, tens of thousands of South Brunswick County people like Susan and Mary have turned to The Lord’s Food Pantry (TLFP) to put food on their tables and hope in their lives. 

Established by the South Brunswick Interchurch Council (SBIC), TLFP provides nutritious food and certain personal supplies to those in need in Brunswick County regardless of their income, faith or other criteria. TLFP’s mission is the reduction of food insecurity in Brunswick County, one individual, one family at a time.

The Lord’s Food Pantry in action is a community of neighbors helping neighbors. We are committed to ending hunger
and supporting self-sufficiency among our less fortunate neighbors.

Do you know that, according to 2024 statistics:

• Brunswick County, roughly the size of Rhode Island, has a population of 166,866?

• Brunswick County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States?

• Brunswick County has a poverty rate of 14%; more than 23,600 people live in poverty? That is one in everyseven people in the county!

• In 2024, TLFP assisted 6,819 families, an increase of 32% over 2023.

And the need continues to grow!

During January 2025, open only 2 hours on Saturdays, The Lord’s Food Pantry provided life-sustaining food, including eggs, milk, produce and other perishables, to 667 children, 1,041 adults and 513 seniors. Not one person was turned away!

Such a response has only been possible because of community support for the mission of The Lord’s Food Pantry. That diverse support comes from the 14 member churches of the South Brunswick Interchurch Council, local grocery stores like Food Lion and Lowes, the Crop Walk, Local Markets, organizations like the Landfall Foundation, the Ocean Ridge Charitable Foundation, and the Carolina Shores Golf Association, and the over 200 volunteers who contributed more than 8,000 hours of service in 2024.
 

“We have heard the cry of our neighbors in need. Through dedicated leadership, church and community involvement, we are here to serve in love.” This is the vision and mission of The Lord’s Food Pantry. It is a vision that remains true to our core values, moves aggressively to meet the increasing demands of food insecurity in our community, and seeks to give both dignity and support to those we serve.

So how do we guarantee that TLFP continues to live into that vision?

In June 2022, TLFP moved into its present building next to the South Brunswick Senior Center in Shallotte. The facility has sufficient space for storing and sorting food donations – including four large refrigerators and freezers to reduce food spoilage to 0%. Volunteers have safe, efficient spaces to assemble food bags and boxes before the Saturday distribution. And, there is a large parking lot where cars can line up to receive food packages and have convenient access to and from Ocean Highway.

All that is very positive – but there’s a catch. The Lord’s Food Pantry does not own its building. And the landlord is looking for a higher return on investment – our lease expires in May of 2027.

Having assessed both its current location and other sites in the area, the Board of Directors of The Lord’s Food Pantry has embarked on a capital campaign to raise $1.25 million to purchase its current or another similar building and then enhance the facility in order to serve even better. Our mission is urgent, and we are responding with both speed and discipline to live into our mission – today and tomorrow.

Who will “Feed my sheep?” We, The Lord’s Food Pantry, will! – with God’s help and your support.

​

For it is God who works in you to will and to act, in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:13

​