Good Shepherd Center

10/15/2026

Throwback Thursday!
As we look back at these photos from years past, we’re reminded of just how much Good Shepherd Center has grown - and how many people have been part of the journey.

To every volunteer who has served a meal, every donor who has given what they could, every business and congregation that has supported us, and every community partner who has believed in our mission - thank you. Your generosity has helped us feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and foster transition to housing for more than 40 years.

These photos are a beautiful reminder that Good Shepherd’s story has always been a community story. And because of your continued support, we’re still here, still serving, and still working toward a community where everyone has a safe and stable place to call home.

Here’s to the memories, the people who made them possible, and the many chapters still to come. Thank you for being part of the Good Shepherd family.

10/13/2026

Before a volunteer shift ever begins at Good Shepherd, someone makes room for it in their day.

They leave work, coordinate with friends, or gather a group from their congregation. They arrive ready to help, bringing their own experiences and a shared willingness to care for someone they may never have met.

Recently, volunteers from Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and the Wilmington Rotary Club have been part of that everyday story here at Good Shepherd.

These are just a few of the many groups and individuals who bring our community through our doors. People who might otherwise never cross paths find themselves working alongside one another, getting to know our neighbors, and becoming part of something together.
That matters. For someone going through a difficult time, the way they are welcomed and treated is part of the care they receive. Our volunteers help make Good Shepherd a place where that care feels human, familiar, and close to home.

We’re glad to share a few of the faces behind it. They’re our neighbors, taking care of our neighbors. 💙

10/09/2026

One week later, these faces are still making us smile. 💙

Good Neighbors Gathering filled Azalea Station with familiar friends, new connections, and plenty of reasons to linger a little longer. Between the conversations, the laughter, and a little friendly auction competition, you made our third annual gathering feel just like its name.

One of our favorite things about this evening is seeing people who know Good Shepherd in so many different ways come together. Some have been part of this work for years. Others are just getting to know us. There’s room for all of you here, and we’re so glad you came.

The evening may be over, but your generosity continues through meals served, shelter provided, and the practical support that helps a neighbor settle into a home of their own.

Enjoy a few favorite moments from a night we’ll remember. See someone you know? Tag them and help us share the smiles!

10/06/2026

Good Neighbors Gathering was such a special evening, and we are so grateful to every sponsor, donor, silent auction contributor, volunteer, Board member, staff member, and guest who helped make it possible.

We gathered around the work we share: helping our neighbors return to housing, stability, and care.

As part of that story, three formerly homeless Good Shepherd guests generously shared their experiences with us in “What Does Home Mean?” They reflected on their first night in a home of their own, what life at home has made easier, and why support along the way matters.

It takes courage to share such personal experiences, and we are deeply grateful they chose to let us into theirs.

Their stories are at the heart of why we gathered, and we do not want them to stay within the walls of one event. We want our whole community to have the chance to hear them.

Take a few minutes to watch “What Does Home Mean?” and please share it with someone else.

Thank you for continuing to stand with Good Shepherd and with our neighbors as they make the journey home.

What does home mean after experiencing homelessness?For three for...

10/02/2026

📣 The Good Neighbors Gathering Silent Auction is officially OPEN!

Your next adventure, a memorable evening, or the perfect gift could be just a bid away. Anyone can join online!

Here’s a taste of what’s waiting:

✈️ See Cape Fear from above with a scenic aerial expedition.

🍽️ Bring the dining experience home with a personalized dinner for eight, complete with a custom menu, signature cocktail, cooking, and table service.

🌊 Make a day of Southport with w**e tasting, local dining, shopping, and coastal charm.

And that’s just the beginning! Explore family outings, jewelry, wellness experiences, w**e collections, and more.

💙 Help us reach our $20,000 auction goal! Every dollar raised supports Good Shepherd’s work helping families, seniors, Veterans, and other neighbors move from homelessness into housing, stability, and care.

You can also make a direct gift through the auction site to support this work.

⏰ Bidding closes Sunday, October 4, at 7 p.m. ET.

👉 See what’s up for bid: https://gng2026.ggo.bid/n/package-list

Find your favorites, place your bids, and share this post so others can join in. Every bid and every gift helps our neighbors take steps toward home.

BidForGood

10/01/2026

A little sparkle. A little Lego fun. A few spooky surprises. 💙

Good Shepherd’s online silent auction opens tomorrow, October 2, at 10 a.m.! Here’s a sneak peek at three packages worth putting on your wish list:

💎 Girls Day Out | Jewelry, Flowers & Fun
A $300 Lumina Gem gift card is just the beginning! Add skating passes for six, a flower-arranging workshop ticket, two $20 w**e tasting cards, and a bottle of Tito’s for plenty of reasons to make plans with friends.

🧱 Kid OR Adult LEGO Party | Bricks & MiniFigs
Who says building fun is just for kids? Celebrate with a 90-minute private party room rental, Minifig building for up to 15 people, and special touches for your guest of honor.

👻 Spooky Season | Ghost Tour & Escape Room Adventure
Make October a little more mysterious with two downtown Wilmington ghost tour passes, a Wilmington ghost book, Green Light Escape Room passes for four, and a $50 Black Cat Shoppe gift card.

Your next great outing can also help a neighbor take the next step toward home. Every winning bid supports Good Shepherd’s work to provide meals, shelter, and support along the path to safe, stable housing.

Head to goodshepherdwilmington.org and click the link at the top of our homepage to preview the online auction!

Bidding opens Friday, October 2, at 10 a.m. and closes Sunday, October 4, at 7 p.m. ET. Everyone can bid online!

09/29/2026

A morning coffee in your own kitchen. A place to return to after a day out. Home makes these everyday moments possible. 💚

With just three days until our online silent auction opens, here are two packages that invite you to enjoy our community while helping neighbors find their way home.

☀️ A Day in Southport
Make a day of w**e tasting, delicious food, shopping, and coastal charm. Gather a few friends and explore the local favorites that make Southport worth the trip.

☕ Wilmington Coffee Passport
Find your next favorite coffee spot! Sip your way around Wilmington with local coffee gift cards, take-home brews, merchandise, and more.

Your participation supports Good Shepherd’s work to help neighbors move from homelessness into safe, stable housing, along with the meals, shelter, and ongoing support that help make that journey possible.
The event is sold out, but everyone can bid online. Help a neighbor find home without leaving yours.

Bidding opens Friday, October 2, at 10 a.m. and closes Sunday, October 4, at 7 p.m. ET.

WilmingtonCoffee SupportLocal

09/29/2026

Before a meal reaches the table at Good Shepherd, there’s a story behind it.

It might begin with fresh produce at a grocery store. Still good to eat, but no longer headed for the sales floor. A Second Helpings pickup gives that food somewhere to go. A driver collects it. Helping hands unload it. In our kitchen, ingredients become a meal, and that meal becomes part of someone’s day they can count on.

For a neighbor who slept outside last night. For someone stretching a paycheck that won’t quite cover groceries. For an older adult making difficult choices on a fixed income.

A plate of food doesn’t solve everything. But it means someone can sit down, be welcomed, and eat without worrying about how to pay.

On September 29, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, we’re recognizing the connection between food we can save and neighbors we can feed.

Through Second Helpings, Good Shepherd rescues more than one million pounds of food each year. Behind that number are local businesses, dedicated drivers, volunteers, and staff who see what good food can still do.

And every day, someone sits down at our table because of them. 💚

StopFoodWaste WilmingtonNC

09/28/2026

Long before she led Good Shepherd, Katrina Knight learned from her parents what it meant to go without, to face uncertainty, and to care for others.

Her father knew hunger as a child and began working at age 12 to help support his mother. Her mother survived serious health challenges as a baby. The stories they shared stayed with Katrina, shaping a commitment to helping people whose lives had been touched by hardship.

In WilmingtonBiz Magazine’s fall feature, “Providing Shelter & Beyond,” Katrina shares that family history and the unexpected path that brought her to Good Shepherd 22 years ago.

Having seen shelters turn people away, she wasn’t sure leading one would be the right fit. During her interview, she asked difficult questions about the organization’s plans for a night shelter. Providing safety mattered. But could Good Shepherd also help people move beyond the need for shelter?

The Board’s willingness to listen and explore what more was possible helped convince her this was a place where she could make a difference.

Today, that commitment runs through Good Shepherd’s continuum of services. A hot meal and a safe place to sleep can open the door to case management, healthcare, and help returning to housing. For chronically homeless individuals with significant disabilities, supportive housing at communities such as SECU Lakeside Reserve and SECU The Sparrow offers a home of their own, with ongoing support to help them remain there.

Behind every apartment door is someone who now has a place to rest, prepare a meal, and begin building a daily life with greater stability.

We’re proud to see Katrina’s leadership recognized in this feature. And we’re grateful to the staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners who have helped bring that vision to life, one neighbor at a time. 💙

Thank you to WilmingtonBiz Magazine and writer Cece Nunn for sharing the story behind this work.
📷 Photo by Aris Harding

FromHomelessnessToHome

09/25/2026

Some partnerships are felt long after the celebration ends. 💙
Each year, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church brings Wilmington together for its Greek Festival, a weekend filled with homemade food, music, dancing, and the joy of sharing their culture with the community. This year marked the festival’s 34th anniversary, with a portion of the proceeds supporting Good Shepherd Center and other local organizations.

But what makes our relationship with St. Nicholas so special is that their care for our neighbors extends far beyond one weekend.
Members of their congregation also give their time as volunteers, showing up throughout the year to help make our work possible. Their generosity is something we experience not just through financial support, but through the people who serve alongside us.
And that made the moment they presented their festival donation even more meaningful.

They brought the check to our Soup Kitchen, right into the space where meals are prepared and shared with neighbors experiencing hunger. Rather than gathering somewhere else for a photo, we had the opportunity to celebrate their gift together, surrounded by the very work their support helps sustain.

There is something beautiful about that connection. A community gathers around food to celebrate its traditions, and that generosity carries forward to help ensure neighbors across the Cape Fear region have a place at the table, too.

To our friends at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, thank you for sharing your traditions, your time, and your generosity with our community. We are so fortunate to have you alongside us. 💙