While no one should go hungry, there are plenty that do in the Wilmington area.
The first Friday in September is National Food Bank Day, which is observe annually to address the issue of food insecurity and to recognize the important work that food banks do in providing meals and support to individuals and families.
Here’s a look at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, an all-volunteer nonprofit, that has been addressing hunger in the Wilmington area for more than 35 years.
What is Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard?
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit providing generous quantities of nutritious food items to food insecure clients in the Cape Fear area. The nonprofit is a partner of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Who does Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard help?
“Many low-income households are unable to afford adequate groceries to feed their families,” said Roxann Lansdowne, executive director of Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. In addition, there are several identified “food deserts” in the Cape Fear region where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, making it difficult for those residents to obtain healthy food options.
“Having limited access to nutritious food can contribute to poor diet, obesity, and other diet-related health problems,” said Lansdowne.
What is a food desert?
A food desert is a low-income census tract with a substantial number of residents with low access to retail outlets selling healthy and affordable foods, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Volunteers put together food boxes and other needs Aug. 20, 2025, at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard on Red Cross Street in downtown Wilmington, N.C.
How many people does Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard help?
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard provided nutritious food for over 73,000 clients in 2024, and “we believe we may serve more than that this year,” said Lansdowne. The number of clients has increased every year since COVID-19, but has become worse with the prices ― such as rent, cost of living, cutbacks in food stamps, etc. “People can’t stretch their paychecks to cover expenses and buy grocers anymore,” said Lansdowne.
What funding does Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard receive?
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard does receive some funding through competitive grants from local foundations and churches, but the majority of the nonprofit funding has always come from the generosity of private individuals. The nonprofit also receives food donations from individuals, coordinated food drives, and grocery stores. In addition, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard distribute federal food through The Emergency Food Assistance Program, which is made possible through our qualified partnership with the local Food Bank.
Has anyone that received assistance ever come back to volunteer?
“Some of our former clients have become volunteers at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard,” said Lansdowne. However, she added that Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard does not track that information, and it would be difficult to estimate how many over the years.
Cheryl M. Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews. Reach her at cheryl.whitaker@starnewsonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: How Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard fights hunger in Wilmington, NC