South Carolina Food Bank Meets the Needs of 40,000 People per Week

From Left: HUD Columbia staff Pam Scott, Sherry Copeland, Kristine Foye, Fatima Pittman, Brad Evatt, Aaron Gagne, Maurice Handy.

From back: Katie Michalovic, Fatima Pittman, Sherry Copeland, Pam Scott, Brad Evatt and Aaron Gagne off to the side.

On a busy weekday just before Christmas, the warehouse of Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia was filled with packed grocery bags waiting to be picked up in the food pantry.

Started in 1981 to provide for the needs of hungry people by gathering and sharing quality food with dignity, compassion, and education for the residents of Columbia, the agency now feeds the hungry across 20 counties in South Carolina.

A team of HUD employees from the South Carolina Field Office recently volunteered at the food bank, helping to prepare more than 2,000 food bags. In addition to helping the community, volunteer group activities are a great way to bring employees together.

"It was great getting out of our normal office routine to help others," said Maurice Handy from the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "Harvest Hope Food Bank, like many other organizations that assist the community, need help and I was happy to be provided the opportunity and more excited to participate. It reminds me of my military career having comradery at work and being able to laugh, relax in a different atmosphere, and learn more about others. I look forward to the next opportunity because helping is what "WE" do at HUD."

Harvest Hope's Columbia location serves an average of 160 individuals every day, with holiday numbers reaching well over 250 per day.

In Harvest Hope's 20 County service area:

• 78% had to choose between food and utilities
• 75% had to choose between food and reliable transportation
• 71% had to choose between food and paying for medical care of medication
• 56% had to choose between food and paying their rent or mortgage
• 29% had to choose between food and paying education costs.

The agency distributed over 22.9 million meals last year and fed approximately 40,425 people a week.

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