The History & Development: The Good Shepherd Food Pantry

The Good Shepherd Food Pantry of Bertie County (GSFP) began its development as an interfaith and multiracial organization that brought a variety of citizens together in the spring of 2008.

Initially, the organizing committee contained members from the Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, and Methodist Faith communities, but later grew to include other interested churches and supporters that would benefit the communities the Good Shepherd Food Pantry serves.

Outreach efforts to the community started as a mobile food distribution program on August 28, 2008.

Families were served once a month with food primarily purchased from the

Food Bank of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, NC. Generous donations from individuals, churches, and grants also provided GSFP funds to make these food purchases happen. With the added support of local organizations, businesses and schools holding food drives and collecting canned goods, GSFP was able to add this additional food into monthly distribution. Between August 2008 and April 2009, the GSFP had nine mobile food distributions.

In 2009, with the growth of GSFP mobile distributions, we began creating structure that would allow our ability to serve grow indefinitely. 

Our Board of Directors was formed, leading to GSFP forming the legal structure

of its incorporation making the organization. The Good Shepherd Food Pantry of Bertie County, NC, Inc. GSFP also became a tax-exempt organization.

In May 2009 GSFP opened a permanent distribution site at 1008 N. King Street, Windsor, NC.

Through the generosity of the Bertie County Commissioners office GSFP rents their building for just $25 a year! Now having a structured home base allowed for freezers to be purchased to store perishable items. This is when an ongoing sponsor Food Lion of Windsor stepped in to help fill them up with meats, dairy, produce, and fresh bakery items sent twice a week.

The 1st Annual Bertie Spooktacular 5k charity race & family fun walk was held on October 30, 2010. 

With applications of families that needed food assistance raising drastically over the past year, it was essential to explore new ways to raise money that could support GSFP ‘s growth. After chatting with a former Windsor resident who had been president of the Outer Banks Relief Foundation, they allowed us generous guidance to make the birth of this annual 5k charity event happen. The 5k now continues on as the Spectacular Fall Jamboree.

Food Lion donated fresh and perishable foods four times a week to support our four monthly distributions. Throughout 2022 over 18,000 lbs. of fresh fruits and vegetables were distributed to families each month.

With the commitment of the GSFP’s, the first paid employee working in harmony with volunteers who contribute over 203 hours each month of their time. The Good Shepherd Food Pantry served an average of 550 families each month from the 9 towns within Bertie County. That includes 183 children under the age of 18 and 253 seniors over the age of 65 that we’ve dedicated food security to each month.

February 2023 GSFP relocated to the old Southwest (Early College) school building located at 819 Governors in Windsor. 

The absolute blessing of this move has allowed GSFP the opportunity to increase the number of families served to over 700 each month and hire two new managers to our team. In addition, two distribution programs were started; the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) which provides over 400 qualified seniors in Bertie with food boxes and the Healthy Opportunity Program (HOP) which provides healthy food boxes to eligible Medicaid recipients.