CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — Regional food banks saw more than $400,000 in emergency grant funds to help with growing demands linked to federal benefit delays.
The government shutdown marked a Nov. 1 deadline for the more than 260,000 households that rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
The deadline sparked Gov. Henry McMaster’s decision to activate the One SC Fund for Emergency Food Response on Oct. 28.
The One SC Fund is one of 500 funds supported by the nonprofit group, Central Carolina Community Foundation. The fund works as a charitable giving campaign that helps South Carolina respond to natural disasters or state-wide crises.
More than $400,000 in the fund was awarded to help feed all 46 counties across the state.
The dollars went to food resources such as Golden Harvest Foodbank, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and the Lowcountry Food Bank.
Central Carolina Community Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Georgia Mjartan says a first set of more than $200,000 in community donations funded organizations.
“We heard immediately from food banks that they were able to buy frozen products, meats, foods people rely on that were not coming in as donations,” Mjartan says. “Products that are more expensive for them to buy, and they were able to distribute those to the food pantries and the local food distribution sites all around the state.”
Mjartan says the second set of $200,000 ensures food banks can replenish their inventory as the higher demand adds to the busy holiday season.
You can find more information on the fund on the organization’s website.
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