Good Shepherd Center

06/01/2026

Last week, our Executive Director, Katrina Knight, got to sit down with Bob Lazaro of All Things Leland to discuss the work that Good Shepherd has been doing to fight hunger and homelessness in Brunswick, Pender, and New Hanover counties, including the recent opening of SECU The Sparrow, 32 units of supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities in the greater Wilmington region. It’s always great when we get to share the work we’re doing with a new audience – thanks for the invitation, Bob!

Community Conversation with Katrina Knight, Executive Director, Good Shepherd Center

06/01/2026

🚗 If your summer goals include:
✔️ Getting out of the house
✔️ Doing something meaningful
✔️ Meeting good people
✔️ Spending your extra time making a real impact
…keep reading!

Good Shepherd Center is looking for volunteer drivers to help with grocery pickup and food box delivery throughout the summer.
It’s a flexible way to give back, especially for college students home for break, teachers on summer schedules, or anyone with a little extra time and a desire to help their community.

Volunteer drivers help rescue food from grocery stores and deliver food to our more vulnerable seniors and families who have recently moved into housing to help ensure they have reliable access to meals.

Right now, we are especially looking for as needed drivers who can step in when regular volunteers are unavailable. Even helping occasionally can make a huge difference!

Summer volunteer perks include:
🌞 A reason to leave the house
🚗 Purposeful Wilmington drives
🥕 Helping reduce food waste
💙 Supporting neighbors in a tangible way
😎 Instant “productive summer” energy

No special experience required — just some extra time and a willingness to help.
📩 Interested? Reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

05/29/2026

Today we are celebrating Kevin and the joy he brings to those around him with his sense of humor that can lift spirits even on the hardest days.

Kevin recently moved out of the shelter into housing of his own, stepping into a new chapter centered on stability, dignity, and a place to truly call home.

Behind every placement is persistence, partnership, and resilience, and Kevin’s next step is a celebration of all three.

We are so excited for Kevin as he begins this next chapter, and we are grateful to be part of a community that works together to make stories like this possible.

05/28/2026

Thank you, Cape Fear Housing Coalition, for recognizing this milestone and for your continued work to advance housing solutions across our region.

SECU The Sparrow represents what is possible when partners come together around a shared belief: homelessness is solvable when housing is paired with the right support.

We are proud to be part of this Coalition and grateful for the many voices pushing our community toward more affordable, accessible, and dignified housing for all. 💙

05/28/2026

At SECU The Sparrow, the library was designed to be a space that changes the way people feel the moment they walk in.

A place where residents can sit, read, gather, exhale, and feel surrounded by beauty in a building created with dignity at its center.

Katrina selected a bold, vibrant wallpaper for the room, and Walls & Gals generously donated their time and talent to install it beautifully.

The result is stunning. The color brings warmth and life into the library, and the entire space now feels welcoming and full of personality. That matters.

Permanent Supportive Housing is about creating spaces where people who have experienced chronic homelessness and live with significant disabilities can feel safe, settled, and truly at home.

This library is one more reminder that dignity lives in the details. 💙

05/25/2026

Inside the Sgt. Eugene Ashley Center, his portrait hangs quietly on the wall.

Not as decoration. Not as history tucked away in a frame. But as a reminder of the name this place carries and the responsibility that comes with it.

Medal of Honor Recipient Sgt. Eugene Ashley Jr. gave his life while attempting to rescue wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War. Today, his name lives on through a beautiful and historic building dedicated to Veterans in our own community who are facing homelessness.

Situated within the historic Washington-Catlett School, the Ashley Center provides Bridge Housing for Veterans, offering a safe place to stay, food, clothing, transportation, case management, and a focused path back to permanent housing.

It is also a place of dignity and calm, with an on-site garden, outdoor meditation space, gym, computers, and gathering areas that help Veterans feel safe, supported, and seen as they work toward a permanent place to call home.

Since opening more than 25 years ago, the Ashley Center has helped end the homelessness of hundreds of Veterans.

This Memorial Day, we remember Sgt. Eugene Ashley Jr. and all those who gave their lives in service. And we honor that sacrifice by continuing to care for those who served.

05/22/2026

Today feels incredibly special and emotional for all of us at Good Shepherd Center.
For the last twelve years, twins Amiya and Amari Libingi have spent their birthday the same way: giving.

Since they were just six years old, they have celebrated each birthday by collecting donations for our guests and personally bringing them through our doors. Year after year, birthday after birthday, they showed up carrying bags, boxes, kindness, and joy. What began as a childhood act of generosity became something far bigger. A tradition rooted in consistency, and genuine care for other people.

Today, at 18 years old, they made their final “birthday donation drop off” before heading into their next chapter at North Carolina A&T State University. Amiya plans to study Animal Science, and Amari will pursue Industrial Engineering. We could not be more proud of the remarkable young adults they have become.
As we looked back through photos from all these years, watching two little children grow into driven and thoughtful young people, it became impossible not to reflect on the person who helped shape all of this behind the scenes: their mother, Sharon.

Because while Amiya and Amari deserve every celebration today, so does she.
A giving heart like this does not happen by accident. A commitment to service that lasts from childhood into adulthood is nurtured, modeled, encouraged, and lived out at home. Sharon has done something extraordinary. She has raised children who instinctively look outward, who understand responsibility to their community, and who move through the world asking not “What can I get?” but “How can I help?”

That is a legacy.
In a world that often celebrates achievement alone, Sharon raised two young people who understand that success and compassion belong together. She created a future where generosity is normal, where service is joyful, and where caring for others is simply part of who they are.

To Amiya and Amari, thank you. Thank you for growing up with us. Thank you for every birthday you chose to share with our community. Thank you for showing all of us what quiet, faithful generosity looks like over time. We cannot wait to see the lives you impact next.

And to Sharon, good luck to them. But good job to you. ❤️

05/21/2026

Every meal prepared in our Soup Kitchen is like an episode of “Chopped”, but instead of a fast-paced cooking competition, it’s a race to turn the most miscellaneous mystery ingredients into a hot meal.

The best part? In our kitchen, no one gets eliminated, and the prize is a substantial, delicious meal for our hungry guests!

Take a look behind the scenes as Chef Chris describes how he decides to turn the day's donated ingredients into a thoughtful meal our neighbors can count on every day.

05/20/2026

It’s Wishlist Wednesday, and this week’s most needed items come directly from our onsite clinic team.

Our clinic nurse has specifically requested:

• Large bandages
• Extra Large bandages
• Nasal saline spray
• Tums or antacids
• Bottled water

These everyday items help provide comfort, care, and basic medical support to homeless neighbors accessing services through our onsite clinic.

When you give, you are helping ensure our team has the resources needed to respond with compassion and dignity each day. Thank you for helping care for our community in such a thoughtful way.

Feel free to drop supplies off at our 811 Martin St. location Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm at the back door labeled "Offices," or you can purchase directly from our wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1MFBAICPISXVC?type=wishlist&filter=all&sort=priority&viewType=list

05/15/2026

Looking for a fun way to support Good Shepherd Center this weekend? 💙

The 34th Annual Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is happening this weekend, May 15-17, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Good Shepherd Center and our mission to provide food, shelter, and housing for neighbors in need.

This longtime Wilmington tradition brings together incredible Greek food, live music, dancing, cultural experiences, and community hospitality all weekend long. From gyros and baklava to church tours and folk dance performances, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. There’s even a drive-thru option!

By attending, you’re not only supporting a beloved local festival and congregation; you’re also helping support services for hungry and homeless neighbors across our community.

📍 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
608 S. College Road, Wilmington
🗓️ Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17

We’re so grateful to St. Nicholas for including Good Shepherd Center in this year’s festival and for continuing to share such generosity with the Wilmington community.

For schedules, menus, and festival details, visit https://stnicholaswilmington.org/greekfest/