As we approach Back to School time, we are reminded that research shows that children with regular access to nutritious food have higher grades and test scores, better attendance, and improved school behavior. At Lowcountry Food Bank, we work to fight childhood hunger in coastal South Carolina through a range of innovative programs.
On-site School Markets provide students and their families the opportunity to select food items to take home. These permanent pantries are located in schools and promote a dignified service experience for our food-insecure neighbors. We provided more than 126,000 pounds of food and essential products to 13 school markets last year.
School Pantries reach children and their families through monthly distributions of shelf-stable food boxes that are often scheduled around PTA meetings, performances, other school events, or distributed on an as-needed basis. Last year, we distributed more than 4,200 25-lb. shelf-stable boxes of food to students and their families during the school year.
BackPack Buddies is designed to fight weekend hunger. Thousands of children in our community rely on free or reduced-price meals they receive at school. BackPack Buddies helps fill the meal gap on weekends and holidays. Children at partner schools who experience hunger are enrolled in the program and receive a backpack containing nutritious food to eat each Friday during the school year. We distributed more than 92,000 BackPack Buddies to 56 school partners across the 10 counties we serve last year, serving about 2,750 children per week during the school year.
Fresh for Kids is a mini-farmers market produce distribution model that serves children participating in our Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding programs. Fresh for Kids allows children to select from a variety of seasonal kid-friendly produce items to make their own bag of yummy and nutritious fruits and vegetables. We distributed more than 60,000 lbs of produce to children through Pop Up Produce distributions, Kids Café, and Summer Meal sites.
The Zucker Family Production Kitchen at Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston is a full-scale, commercial kitchen that prepares and distributes meals to fight hunger in our community. Managed by Lowcountry Food Bank Executive Chef Emily Cookson and Production Kitchen Associate Mary Beth Fechhelm, our kitchen is fueled and completely staffed by 40 dedicated kitchen volunteers who prepare over 4,000 meals each week for our neighbors who experience hunger. Meals are nutritionally balanced and delicious to meet the needs of our neighbors who need food assistance
Lowcountry Food Bank’s Summer Meals program aims to provide nutritious meals and snacks in the summer for children and teens who may not have access to other meals. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is operated through the USDA and implemented in South Carolina through the Department of Education. Prepared more than 18,000 meals for 19 summer camps and library programs across five counties last year.
At Lowcountry Food Bank, we create and distribute Kids Café meals to children who may be experiencing food-insecurity in after-school programs. A Feeding America initiative, it is one of the largest charitable meal service programs in the country, and provides free meals and nutrition education to children who may not have access to a supper meal. Thanks to partnerships with schools, community centers and other partners, Kids Café, a USDA–operated program through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), feeds more children than ever before. We are proud to work with multiple partners to feed children and provide access to fresh produce through their after-school programs. We prepared more than 140,000 Kids Café meals last year to more than 25 after-school sites during the school year.
Brenda Shaw, Chief Development Officer
Lowcountry Food Bank
843-747-8146
http://www.LowcountryFoodBank.org
Mail@LowcountryFoodBank.org
2864 Azalea Dr, Charleston, SC 29405
WHHI Daily News Anchor: Betsy McDaniel
July 2024
WHHI Television: Your Hyperlocal South Carolina Television Station Serving the Lowcountry!
Hilton Head Island, SC | Bluffton, SC | Beaufort, SC | Pooler, GA
Beaufort County | Jasper County | Hampton County
WHHI-TV. Local News. Local Sports. Local Television. Live Local.
Spectrum Channel 3 & 1230 | Hargray Channel 8 & 418 | Over the Air 30.1
843-785-4545
http://www.WHHITV.com
http://www.Facebook.com/WHHITV
http://www.Twitter.com/WHHITV
WHHITV@Gmail.com
32 Office Park Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
