A Sunday School room at the Assembly of God Church on Lighthouse Road has been been commandeered to hold shelves of non-perishable foods and boxes of hurricane relief supplies. 

Pastor Ivey Belch has been working for over two years to bring this service to the island. Even though the Bread of Life Food Pantry opened recently, twenty-five Ocracoke families have already stopped by to get food. "A lot of people need help getting through the winter," Ivey said. Winter can be a tough time for islanders any year, but after a hurricane in the fall that disrupts work, it can be especially bad.

"If they have a need, they can come in," Ivey said. Food pantry volunteers will ask if people are getting help other places, how many family members they need to feed, if there are kids... "There's not hard criteria, unless people are coming week after week," Ivey said. "We're not going to turn anybody down if they need help."

The health center and school can refer people to Bread of Life, as can the Hyde County Department of Social Services.  

"Some on the island don't think it's needed, but I think it's very needed," Ivey said, adding that there's no resistance within the Assembly congregation, where they are all for it. There's no judgement here, either. "We don't know when we might be the ones in need."

The pantry is well-stocked with canned goods and boxed foods, most of which came from donations for hurricane relief, and from the Ocracoke Island Realty food drive at Christmas. Donations are welcome. 

"Canned soups are always good, it can be a meal in itself," Ivey said. "We have a good abundance of string beans right now, pork and beans are popular, and raviolis for the kids. And we always need paper products."

Bread of Life doesn't just provide food. There are disaster relief supplies left over from Matthew, including soap, towels, blankets, and toothbrushes. The church also has quite an impressive collection of new toys and clothes for children, and they are happy to help out at Christmas or birthdays.

"If people are having issues financially, we can help with money management," Ivey said. 

Eventually, Bread of Life will expand to include a freezer for frozen foods and meat. The church is collecting donations to build an outbuilding for the growing pantry.

For now, Ivey is hoping to get the word out about Bread of Life and encourages people to come in and get what they need. 

"We know people go off the island for the anonymity," he said. "But we want people to know that we will keep their visits here confidential."

The food pantry is open Tuesdays and Fridays, 12–2pm. It's staffed by volunteers (anyone can help, not just church members), and help is also available other days by calling Ivey at the church, 252-928-9001.

The Assembly of God Church is working with Lifeline Food Pantry in Rodanthe, NC, which is helping Bread of Life to get established. In a couple of years, Bread of Life will transition into being its own non-profit (with a board and director), and get supplies directly from the Food Bank of the Albemarle.  

The Assembly of God Church meets Sunday mornings for Sunday School at 10am, and church at 11am, and a 6pm hymns and Bible study service. They also meet in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday nights at 7pm with their "breakout" groups – women, men, and youth. In the summer, the Frostbites sno-cone stand (near the Jolly Roger) gives local kids good job training and all the profits benefit the church youth program.

If you'd like to donate money to the Bread of Life Food Pantry, please make checks out to "Ocracoke Assembly of God" with "food pantry" in the memo line. Mail to Ocracoke Assembly of God, PO Box 68, Ocracoke, NC 27960.