A local organization was recently recognized at the Washington-Beaufort Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet as Nonprofit of the Year.

Eagle’s Wings food pantry in Washington, which has made a significant difference in the lives of county residents and their basic needs was recognized for its outreach and service to the community. Once a business or organization is nominated for an award, the Chamber’s board members meet and select recipients for each award, said Catherine Glover, director of the Chamber.

“The Board made the decision based on all they have done for the community and when you read their history, you realize how much they have done to meet the needs of the people of our community,” Glover said.

Executive Director Ann Marie Montague said Eagle’s Wings provides a very basic need to Beaufort County residents in need. In the county, one in four children go to bed hungry, but unlike some organizations, every dollar donated to the local food pantry stays in the county, which is, in part, why Montague thinks Eagle’s Wings was nominated, she said.

“I was very surprised,” Montague said in regard to the award. “I feel that when I stood up and very surprisingly accepted the award, I was accepting the award in the name of our clients, volunteers, staff and donors. They’re really the ones who made this award possible.

“Everything (donated) is used right here in Beaufort County. I think one of the reasons we were even nominated, the community, after 25 years, knows we’re here and they recognize the need.”

The nonprofit conducts numerous projects and program throughout the year, including a mobile pantry to underserved areas like Aurora and Chocowinity once a month, an expanded Back Pack Pals program, maintaining and working with the Food Bank of the Albemarle to distribute produce and other food items, a homebound delivery program that aids around 80 people that are physically or medically unable to visit the pantry and cooking classes that teach its clients how to shop for and cook nutritious foods. The classes are based on the Cook Smart, Eat Smart program developed by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and the Beaufort County Extension but are retailored to fit the needs of those served by Eagle’s Wings, Montague said.

Montague said the programs would not be possible without the support of the community in the form of a strong volunteer base.

“We want to be able to continue and grow these programs,” Montague said. “It takes a lot of effort as well as funding. I always tell people, ‘It’s friends and neighbors feeding friends and neighbors.’ Everything the volunteers do is to help feed the people right around us.”

In addition to its programs, the nonprofit is focusing on strengthening its infrastructure. That includes the possibility of replacing at least one of the two vans it uses to transport food, a “new-to-them” forklift, the addition of a handicapped accessible restroom at the pantry and renovations to its warehouses through the Jonathan Havens Charitable Foundation, Montague said. The food pantry also receives generous support from local businesses and organizations like PotashCorp-Aurora.

“These are all things that will help us help the clients better,” Montague said. “It’s more than just going out and buying cans of green beans. We are in a position, thank heavens, to be able to do these things. Everything we do is designed to directly affect our mission.”