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.
Food Bank of the Albemarle Is committed to a hunger-free community, working each day with retail donors, farmers, private donors, hunger relief partners, and volunteers towards this goal.
In addition, we are striving to meet our “Bold Goal” of 10.7 million meals annually by 2025 to close the meal gap. We recognize that we cannot go from our current distribution of 4.9 million meals to 10.7 million overnight, we have a thoughtful and reasonable plan that will grow our capacity every year through 2025.
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 »
Meet Our Leadership
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 »
Strategic Plan + Financial Info
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
2025 National Volunteer Week with WAWA
It’s National Volunteer Week, and we’re thanking our dedicated volunteers at the Food Bank. WAWA has generously donated $500 in gift cards to give out to…
Neighbor Story: Deborah
Deborah is retired and lives in Elizabeth City with her rescue dog. She is on a fixed income and tries to make the most of what…
Partner Spotlight: Open Door Food Pantry
Strong partnerships to feed our neighbors Food Bank of the Albemarle works with over 100 partners across our 15-county service area, with 155 unique programs to…
Neighbor Stories: Ella
The Rising Cost of Living in Northeastern NC Families, seniors, and veterans are feeling the pressure of rising costs of food, housing, utilities and medicine in…
Join our team and join the fight against hunger
