sign up

About Us

Food Bank of the Albemarle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating hunger in our region.

Food Bank of the Albemarle: Fighting Hunger in Northeastern NC for Over 40 years!

The story of the food bank begins in 1981 when a group of concerned citizens organized a meeting. This first gathering, chaired by County Commissioner Bill Owens, was to discuss the need and process of setting up a food bank.

With the efforts of 20 area churches, dozens of local businesses, and the Elizabeth City Foundation enough funds, food and labor were donated to get the project off the ground.

The History of Albemarle Food Bank

Then called the Albemarle Food Bank and Food Pantry, Inc., the Food Bank was located in a small warehouse at the southern end of Elizabeth City. With founding Director Deborah Fox at the helm, the Food Bank distributed approximately 133,882 meals around the 10 counties in northeast North Carolina that it served during the first three years of operation.

Since those early days, the Food Bank of the Albemarle has distributed approximately 46 million meals to the hungry men, women and children in a 15 county region that makes up northeast North Carolina. Over 56 million pounds of food have passed through our hands to someone in need.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Food Bank is to fight hunger and poverty in our 15-county service area in northeast North Carolina. We are a regional clearinghouse for the collection and distribution of food and grocery items to over 100 non-profit and faith-based organizations for their food programs and to eligible individuals for their food needs.

Our Vision

Our Core Values

Stewardship

We will be good stewards of all of the resources.

Urgency

We will operate with an acute sense of responsiveness to serve the needs of the hungry in our region.

Collaboration

To pursue all working relationships that will support the Food Bank of the Albemarle’s mission.

Compassion

We will be sensitive to the needs of the hungry in our region.

Excellence

We are committed to improving our performance every day.

Ethical

We will be transparent in our actions.

Diversity

We will be inclusive of all groups of people.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

The Food Bank of the Albemarle ensures that there is never discrimination in program design, hiring or implementation based of any physical, religious or unique characteristics or limitations of an individual or group. Furthermore, we ensure our partner agencies in the Hunger Relief Network serving northeast North Carolina receive non-discrimination training. 

When someone receives food through a program sponsored by the Food Bank of the Albemarle or a Hunger Relief Partner, they will not face discrimination.

Find Out More About Our Commitment to Inclusion Here »

The Food Bank of the Albemarle has seen changes in leadership, faced tough times and prospered, and weathered through natural disasters. Through it all, we remain dedicated to our mission of feeding the hungry; our resolve has never wavered.

Meet the Food Bank Team + Board »

For more than forty years, our goal has been to to fight hunger and poverty in our 15-county service area in northeast North Carolina. And we’ve delivered. The Food Bank provided over 88 million meals to families & individuals in 2023.

Find Out More About Our Strategic Plan + Financial Information »

The Food Bank of the Albemarle is a proud member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. Feeding America is a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries and local meal programs.

The Food Bank of the Albemarle is also a proud member of the Feeding the Carolinas, North and South Carolina’s only statewide hunger relief organization that continuously services all 146 counties.

What’s going on at the Food Bank

How Volunteers Help the Food Bank

It’s an understatement just how important volunteers are here at Food Bank of the Albemarle. Volunteers give their time to help out in so many ways,…

THE DAVID & NICOLE TEPPER FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT OF GRANT FUNDING TO ALL FOOD BANKS IN THE CAROLINAS

– This commitment includes special, one-time grants to each of the 10 food banks serving North and South Carolina, as well as increased annual gifts to…

Hunger is Rising – Cuts to SNAP Will Make it Worse for NC Families

In recent weeks, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget bill that would slash $300 billion in food assistance, gutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…

Map the Meal Gap Study Shows Increased Food Insecurity in Northeastern North Carolina

Food Bank of the Albemarle announced today that new figures from Feeding America’s Annual Map the Meal Gap study show that food insecurity has surged across…

Shout Out to Our Sponsors

Premier Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Partner Sponsor
Carolina Designs logo
Partner Sponsor
First Bank
Partner Sponsor
Nucor Logo
Partner Sponsor

Join our team and join the fight against hunger

Join our Email List

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)
USDA Non-Discrimination Commitment Logo
Hugh Cale Community Center Calendar Logo

Proudly Serving Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington Counties.