Over the past year, All Things Leland has spent time talking directly with the people who run some of the organizations helping our neighbors every day.
They are the helpers.
These conversations have provided a look behind the scenes at the challenges facing families, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, people without adequate healthcare and others who sometimes need a helping hand.
This post brings those resources together in one place.
Whether you need assistance yourself, know someone who does, or simply want to support an organization doing important work in our community, this is a good place to start.
A note about this guide: Programs, eligibility requirements, hours and available funding can change. Contact the organization directly to confirm current services and eligibility.
Need Help Now?
If you aren’t sure where to start, these organizations are good places to begin:
Brunswick Family Assistance — food, emergency financial assistance, utilities, rent and other basic needs.
Brunswick Partnership for Housing — homelessness, emergency shelter, housing assistance and case management.
New Hope Clinic — healthcare for eligible low-income and uninsured residents.
Brunswick Senior Resources — meals, transportation, caregiver assistance and services for older adults.
Food & Emergency Assistance
Brunswick Family Assistance
Help with: Food, rent, utilities, prescriptions and other emergency needs.
Brunswick Family Assistance is one of Brunswick County’s primary organizations helping families and individuals experiencing financial hardship.
Its programs include an emergency food pantry, prescription assistance, utility assistance, rental assistance, summer food programs, Christmas programs and a mobile pantry.
BFA also operates mobile services, including regular service in Leland, making it particularly relevant to residents of northern Brunswick County.
All Things Leland interviewed: Kyle Abrams, Executive Director.
Learn more: Brunswick Family Assistance
Apply for assistance: BFA Assistance Application
All Things Leland: Community Spotlight: Brunswick Family Assistance
The Sister Isaac Center
Help with: Food, clothing, household goods, hygiene items and emergency financial assistance.
Located in Wilmington, The Sister Isaac Center serves residents facing immediate financial and material needs.
Services include food, clothing, housewares and hygiene supplies, as well as assistance with expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation, medical and dental costs, childcare and automobile repairs.
All Things Leland interviewed: Theresa Weissburg, Director
Learn more: The Sister Isaac Center
All Things Leland: Community Conversation — Serving the Needy for 40 Years
The Bridge Presbyterian Church
Help with: Food insecurity among children and families.
The Bridge Presbyterian Church in Leland has developed community partnerships focused on helping food-insecure children and their families, including working with local schools and other organizations.
All Things Leland interviewed: Dr. Doug Cushing, Pastor
Learn more: The Bridge Presbyterian Church
All Things Leland: Helping Food Insecure Children and Their Families
Housing & Homelessness
Brunswick Partnership for Housing
Help with: Homelessness, emergency shelter, case management and transitional housing.
Brunswick Partnership for Housing provides services to people and families experiencing homelessness throughout Brunswick County.
Services include outreach and case management, information and referrals, emergency shelter and transitional housing.
The organization also advocates for permanent, safe and affordable housing.
All Things Leland interviewed: Sally Learned, Executive Director.
Learn more: Brunswick Partnership for Housing
All Things Leland: Assisting Unsheltered Families in Our Community
Good Shepherd Center
Help with: Homelessness, shelter, meals, groceries, supportive housing and rehousing.
Good Shepherd Center in Wilmington provides a broad range of services for people experiencing homelessness.
Programs include emergency shelter, day shelter, meals, food distribution, medical services, supportive housing and rapid rehousing.
All Things Leland interviewed: Katrina Knight, Executive Director,
Learn more: Good Shepherd Center
All Things Leland: Helping the Homeless
Healthcare
New Hope Clinic
Help with: Medical care, dental care, pharmacy assistance and wellness services.
New Hope Clinic provides affordable healthcare to eligible adults in Brunswick County who have Medicaid or are uninsured and have low incomes.
Services include primary care, dental care, pharmacy services, medication assistance, health education, diabetes management and nutrition counseling.
The organization has also expanded mobile healthcare through its Wellness Wagon, bringing services directly into communities across Brunswick County.
All Things Leland interviewed: Sheila Roberts, Executive Director.
Learn more: New Hope Clinic
Services: New Hope Clinic Services
All Things Leland: Bringing Healthcare Home: How New Hope Clinic Is Reaching Brunswick County
Help for Seniors & Caregivers
Brunswick Senior Resources
Help with: Senior wellness, meals, aging resources, transportation, caregiver support and assistance navigating services.
Brunswick Senior Resources serves older adults throughout Brunswick County.
Its Aging Resources division helps residents age 60 and older and their caregivers connect with services such as Meals on Wheels, home care, transportation, caregiver resources, counseling, medication assistance and other community resources.
BSRI also operates senior centers, including a presence in Leland.
All Things Leland interviewed: Yvette Gosline, Chief Operating Officer.
Learn more: Brunswick Senior Resources
Aging Resources: BSRI Aging Resources
All Things Leland: Serving Seniors in Leland and Throughout Brunswick County
Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging
Help with: Aging services, caregiver support, senior advocacy, referrals and navigating community resources.
The Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging serves Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties.
It helps coordinate services designed to allow older adults to remain independent in their homes as long as possible.
Programs include information and referrals, caregiver support, elder-abuse prevention, long-term-care advocacy, Medicare assistance and senior advocacy.
All Things Leland interviewed: Holly Pilson, Director
Learn more: Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging
All Things Leland: Serving Brunswick County’s Older Americans
Children & Families
Diaper Bank of North Carolina — Lower Cape Fear Branch
Help with: Diapers, period supplies, formula and other essential hygiene products.
The Diaper Bank of North Carolina works through community partners to provide essential supplies to families who cannot afford them.
The Lower Cape Fear Branch serves the Wilmington and surrounding region.
All Things Leland interviewed: Founder and CEO of the Diaper Bank - Michelle Schaefer and Julie Bowling (Lower Cape Fear Branch of the Diaper Bank)
Learn more: Diaper Bank of North Carolina
All Things Leland: Diaper Bank of North Carolina
Environmental & Community Resources
Cape Fear River Watch
Help with: River and water-quality education, environmental advocacy, watershed protection and community involvement.
Cape Fear River Watch is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality of the Cape Fear River Basin.
Its work includes education, advocacy, water-quality monitoring, cleanups, research, environmental programs and community activities.
All Things Leland interviewed: Morgan Hooks, Outreach and Engagement Manager
Learn more: Cape Fear River Watch
All Things Leland: Protecting Our Drinking Water Supply
North Carolina Coastal Federation
Help with: Coastal conservation, environmental education, stormwater management and protection of North Carolina’s coastal resources.
The North Carolina Coastal Federation works to protect and restore the state’s coastline through conservation, education, community engagement and advocacy.
All Things Leland interviewed: Bonnie Mitchell, Coastal Education Coordinator, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Learn more: North Carolina Coastal Federation
Smart Yards: Coastal Federation Smart Yards Resources
All Things Leland: Protecting Our Coastline
Why These Organizations Matter
One of the things that became clear during these conversations is that there isn’t one organization that can solve a family’s problems.
Someone struggling financially may need food assistance from one organization, healthcare from another, help finding housing from another and transportation or senior services from yet another.
That’s why these organizations often work together.
A person who needs help with a utility bill may also need food assistance. Someone experiencing homelessness may need healthcare, transportation, mental-health services and ultimately permanent housing. An older adult may need meals, transportation, home care and help navigating Medicare or other benefits.
The organizations featured here form part of a larger community safety net.
If You Want to Help
You don’t have to work for a nonprofit to make a difference.
Most of these organizations rely heavily on volunteers, donations, community partnerships and people simply spreading the word about available services.
Volunteer. Many organizations need people as much as they need financial contributions.
Donate. Financial contributions allow organizations to respond when needs change.
Donate goods. Food, diapers, clothing and household supplies can often be put to immediate use.
Share information. Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give someone is knowing where to call.
Support local nonprofits. These organizations are part of the infrastructure of our community, even though much of their work happens quietly.
More Community Conversations
All Things Leland’s Community Conversation series has featured organizations, public officials, community leaders and experts discussing issues affecting Leland, North Brunswick and the surrounding region.
Watch All Things Leland on YouTube
All Things Leland YouTube Channel
New interviews and community conversations are added regularly.
This resource page will be updated as new conversations and organizations are added.
If you know of a local organization that should be included, please let us know. Please send an email to AllThingsLeland at gmail.com.