In just three hours, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard can serve over 240 Wilmington-area families — so many that their Chair of the Board, Roxann Lansdowne, is known to stop traffic for the organization’s drive-thru distributions. The organization has seen more than 76,000 visits over the past year, in a smooth process that is made possible by hundreds of volunteers. Lansdowne and colleagues have trained with the same mantra: Nobody goes away hungry.
Mother Hubbard's serves families in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Columbus counties, with some traveling from as far as Duplin County. No matter how far neighbors may travel, Lansdowne never turns anyone away. Even bus drivers on long routes have come back to get food.
– Roxann Lansdowne Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Chair of the BoardI can tell you that nobody goes away hungry. That is the first thing we tell volunteers: nobody goes away hungry.
The all-volunteer team’s impact has drawn statewide attention, and the state Department of Justice recently honored Lansdowne and Mother Hubbard with the Dogwood Award for leadership during the 2025 government shutdown. Attorney General Jeff Jackson called the organization “a lifeline for families throughout the region”.
Mother Hubbard’s success is a reflection of what we can accomplish when local communities join together in a common cause.
– Roxann Lansdowne Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Chair of the BoardWe‘ve been around 40 years and we’ve never done a fundraiser or anything like that. It’s all grassroots. It’s all based on good hearts and understanding that we are our neighbors’ helpers.
Sign-up to receive emails with updates, resources, and ways to get involved.