12 years! That’s how long Dawn Ellis, founder, and executive director of Share the Table has been serving her community in Surf City, North Carolina. The faith-based nonprofit began inside Faith Harbor United Methodist Church. Dawn and a longtime friend noticed a need in their community and decided to take action. “After establishing Share the Table, we quickly realized the need in our community was greater than the support one church could provide at that time,” said Ellis.
Approaching its 13th year and with help from the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Share the Table now has churches, local service groups, and businesses from different industries on its board of directors that provide even more support and resources.
What Share the Table has been able to accomplish in 12 years is a testament to the strength of its community. The organization’s initial outreach started with providing free meals for the community.
One of the biggest hurdles Dawn says Share the Table has dealt with in recent years is the lack of space as the need to serve individuals, families, and other members of the community who are facing food insecurity grew. “We’ve moved locations three times throughout our 12-year history. Although each location has served its purpose, Share the Table is moving in a new direction with the construction of a 10,000 sq ft facility. It’s just a blessing to know that we are going to be able to help more people.”
Along with providing meals to the community, Share the Table also operates a food pantry and its Meals Until No Child Hungers (MUNCH) program that supplies food to students in the Topsail area.
Ellis adds, “I think it’s important to show and be an example of what it means to be a leader in the community. My work is less about providing assistance but more about encouraging and empowering our community.”
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