From a Closet to a Community Lifeline - Our Story

Front row from Left to Right: Christina Dobbins, Shirley Raines, Paul Raines Back row from Left to Right: Matt Raines

More than 30 years ago, in the back of a small church in Brevard, North Carolina, a powerful movement began; not in a large facility with major funding, but in a simple closet.

Our founder, Shirley Raines, started what would become In His Hands Food Pantry with a single belief: no one around her should or would go hungry.

Shirley lived a life deeply rooted in service. As the wife of Pastor Paul Raines of Community Baptist Church, and through her work as a bus driver for students with special needs at Brevard High and Middle School, she was closely connected to the people of Transylvania County. She saw firsthand the quiet, often unseen ways that hunger impacted families, children, and individuals across the community. She didn't wait for the perfect solution, she just started it.

With faith as her foundation, Shirley lived the simple but powerful message of "break bread and multiplying fish." What little she had, was shared. Somehow, it was always enough to help one more person, one more family for one more day. No one who came to her door left hungry. What had started as a small, personal act of service quickly became something bigger, as word spread and needs grew so did the pantry.

Eventually, In His Hands Food Pantry found a home at the community center beside Community Baptist Church. What had once only served a handful of neighbors steadily grew into a trusted resource for families across Transylvania County.

Today we serve more than 150 families every single week, ensuring their needs are met. Behind every bag of food is a parent trying to make ends meet. A senior choosing between medication and groceries. A child who deserves to focus on school, not hunger. What we provide is not just nutrition, but relief, stability and a reminder that no one in our community is alone.

On January 2nd, 2020 Mrs. Shirley Raines passed away, leaving a space that cannot be filled. Her mission, however, did not come to an end. The values she instilled continue to show up in every volunteer, every donation and in every family that walks through our doors.

In the uncertain and isolating days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hard times of Hurricane Helene, that mission was critical. When so much of our world had shut down, this pantry stayed open. We are more than a place to receive food, but a place of connection, where people can still be seen, supported and cared for during some of the hardest times in our history. With support from partners like MANNA FoodBank, we met the growing needs of our community with unwavering commitment.

For over 30 years, In His Hands Food Pantry has been a steady presence in Transylvania County. A place to find nourishment, dignity, and hope. We believe in a community where no one has to wonder where their next meal will come from and no one has to face hardships alone. Whether you are here because you need support, or because you want to give it, you are a part of our story Together, we can ensure that what started in a small closet continues to grow, through every hand extended, every meal shared, and every life touched.