Who We Are
Our Mission
The Shepherd's Table is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide food and resources to our neighbors. We operate under the core values of selflessly and humbly going the extra mile to provide our guests equitable, supportive, and encouraging service.
In our community kitchen, we provide nutritious hot meals twice daily throughout the week, operate a food pantry, and refer individuals to other agencies that may be able to provide the resources they need. We provide over 35,000 hot meals and food to prepare at home for over 6,000 neighbors annually and help thousands of our clients connect with local resources.
Our Vision
Our vision is to help our neighbors move to places of food and housing security. We start by providing a safe environment where our neighbors are treated with dignity and respect. Offering food is the first step in addressing the needs of anyone who comes through our doors. We offer other services via linkage agreements that we maintain with other agencies when possible.
Our History
Our founder and first Executive Director was Lyn Snyder, an individual with vision and passion. She coordinated with local churches and community leaders to start Shepherd's Table to help those who were food and housing insecure in Horry County. In 2008, we rented a small unit that could hold fifty people and opened our doors. Initially, we served one meal daily, and volunteers purchased the food they prepared for dinner in our tiny kitchen. We operated with one director and twenty dedicated volunteers. Our board was comprised of representatives from the twelve founding churches.
Since then, we have purchased the building we occupy and updated and expanded our kitchen in 2015 and 2022. Our dining room can hold 100 people, and our commercial kitchen can accommodate at least six volunteers. We have over 150 volunteers who help us cook and serve lunch and dinner Monday through Friday. Local restaurants and grocery stores donate over 200,000 pounds of food for us to use in our kitchen. We have added two staff members (a kitchen and a pantry manager). Our volunteer board has expanded to include community leaders, and we have steering and finance committees. Through these efforts, we can serve over 1,000 meals a month.
2016, we began offering Fresh Xpress, a once-a-month fresh fruit and vegetable distribution. At least 450 individuals benefit from Fresh Express each month. In 2024, we opened a client-choice pantry and OrderAhead outdoor lockers, offering a fast, private way to order free online groceries at home. The programs have enabled food to be provided to over 4,000 people each month.
