Brendon Barber is a seventh-generation Georgetonian with deep roots and an even deeper sense of responsibility to his community. He grew up in a home shaped by hard work and education, his mother an English literature teacher, his father an employee at the paper mill. He attended both Winyah and Howard High Schools during desegregation, then went on to star on the football field and play wide receiver at Michigan State University. From there, his path took him across the country, working in the airline industry, Division I college athletics, and insurance, before duty called him home. When his father’s health began to fail, Brendon returned to Georgetown to help his parents, bringing with him a wide range of experience and a heart for service.
Back home, he stepped into local politics, a “slight time” that turned into 24 years on Georgetown City Council, including a term as mayor. Local government, he says, is where you feel every decision. You don’t disappear into a marble hallway; you run into people in the grocery store who want to talk about trash cans, potholes, or hurricane response. During his time in office, Brendon built strong relationships with state and federal leaders while staying grounded in the everyday realities of his constituents. He’s proud of his time in office, but he’s equally proud of what came next, his work leading Helping Hands of Georgetown County, a nonprofit devoted to lifting neighbors out of poverty.
What began 35 years ago as a small food pantry founded by local churches has grown into what Brendon calls a “one-stop shop” for those in need. Helping Hands provides food assistance, utility vouchers, and even comprehensive dental care through a clinic started by Dr. Benny DeBose after discovering how many ER visits were caused by dental pain. Brendon says it’s not a handout, it’s a hand up. Their focus is on dignity, empowerment, and breaking cycles of generational poverty. Every decision, who gets served, how funds are allocated, is made quickly but responsibly, thanks to a committed board, transparent auditing, and an annual impact statement showing where every dollar goes. Nearly 90% of donations flow directly back into the community through food, housing, and healthcare support.
Beyond crisis care, Brendon is especially passionate about the Youth Empowerment Program, a leadership and life-skills initiative serving Georgetown County high schoolers. The program combines career assessments, social-emotional learning, and field experiences to help students build confidence, direction, and resilience. Through partnerships with schools and organizations like North Carolina Outward Bound, students experience what Brendon calls “educational adventures”, from ziplining to spending a week off the grid in the Florida Everglades. The goal: to give young people exposure, belief, and the tools to build a better life.
Asked for his favorite fictional character, Brendon doesn’t hesitate: Black Panther’s T’Challa. A leader with resources and power who chooses to share them with the world, not protect them for himself. It’s the perfect metaphor for Brendon’s mission at Helping Hands, to open doors, uplift others, and build something that lasts. And like any good leader, he’s quick to credit his wife Pamela (“the boss”), his four children, and their eight grandchildren for keeping him grounded and grateful. “I try to wake up joyful,” he says. “Because if we all share what we have, this community can change for the better.”
