Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard is a local food pantry with an affiliation to Grace UMC. The Cupboard’s mission statement is: Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard is called to serve those who are hungry in the Wilmington area through the distribution of emergency food. This service is provided by volunteers in partnership with the community, without regard to race or religion and with care to preserve the dignity of the individuals being served. Grace members participate on the Board of the Cupboard and as volunteers on several days each month. The official Grace Church shifts are the 4th Friday of each month and the 3 rd Saturday of each month. Email japlittlefrogs@gmail.com to help on Friday and alli7173@hotmail.com to help on Saturday (training required ahead of time!). The church also provides clerical support (copying, giving out keys, answering questions).The Cupboard was started in Wilmington in 1985 by Sister Mary Isaac in a space beside the Food Bank. It was housed in the Grace UMC facilities from 1997-2009 and in October 2012 moved to its current location at 4th & Red Cross Streets. The Cupboard is run entirely by volunteers. Rules, regulations, and problems are dealt with by a Board of Directors, which meets once per month. There are over 400 people volunteering at the Cupboard each month from various congregations and businesses. It is open from 1-3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and provides 3-5 days worth of food, given out once per month. The homeless clients are able to come weekly and receive a smaller portion of items in smaller servings that don’t require cooking. Less than 5% of people who receive food are homeless. As of October 2010, the Cupboard also provides frozen and perishable food, through programs with the government and local Food Lion stores. Only non-perishable food donations can be accepted at this time. Donations of food should be brought to the side door, accessed via Fourth Street. Ring the doorbell and a volunteer will let you in. Either bring donations while the Cupboard is open (1-3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday) or at other times or for large deliveries, please contact Jane Radack at 793-9236. Volunteer jobs include food collection from local stores, receiving and sorting food, purchasing food, unloading vehicles, stocking shelves, providing custodial services, creating and maintaining client records (computer skills required), packing food boxes and distributing bags and boxes of food. Volunteers with trucks are sometimes needed for picking up and delivering food from the Food Bank on weekdays. To volunteer or donate to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, click here www.motherhubbardsnc.org
Financial donations may be also be mailed to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, PO Box 76, Wilmington, NC 28402. For general information, please listen to the recorded message at 762- 2199. Physical address is 315 Red Cross Street. **Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard is a 501- (c)-3 organization, so all deductions are tax-deductible.