Need is always in season, and it’s a reality local food banks can’t escape.
Abbie Kline, marketing and events coordinator with Loaves and Fishes, is keenly aware of the need her organization faces year round.
Loaves and Fishes collects and sends food out to 107 local organizations, like addiction treatment centers, mental health organizations and homeless shelters. They have become a distribution hub for local charities.
Kline said when individual donations drop off, the organization pushes for more food drives at local businesses.
Erinn Rowe, CEO of Harvest Hope Food Bank sees people who are programmed to give over the holiday season, and she can use that to stretch food donations and funds further.
While Rowe knows food donations spike heading into the holiday season then drop off significantly between January and March, her organization does try to use the extra food to keep things afloat. And, for those who’d rather not make one more trip to the grocery store, they offer an Amazon wishlist for those who’d like to help virtually.
Rowe said people should be mindful of what they’re giving. That can of creamed eels in the back of the pantry from 1984? It’s probably best just to toss it.
“People want to give the odds & ends in their cupboards,” Rowe said.
Items needed:
- canned vegetables
- canned meats
- gravy and sauces
- canned and jellied fruits
- dry pasta, beans and rice
- instant/microwavable meals
- instant mashed potatoes
- oatmeal, grits and cereal
- soups and chili
- canned pasta meals
- flour, sugar and vegetable oil
Rowe said volunteers are always welcome, and having volunteers helps the organization spend as much of its donation dollars on its mission.
“It’s a great time of year to collect,” she said.
Neither organization takes toiletries or frozen foods like holiday turkeys or hams, but they will hand out all the fixings as long as they’re shelf-stable.
Samaritan House is one of the local beneficiaries of Loaves & Fishes and Harvest Hope. Director Steve Fior said the organization served 148 families at their most recent opening and donates somewhere between 2,300 and 3,000 pounds of food per week. During the COVID-19 outbreak, he saw it as high as 173 families per week.
As with the food banks, they’re looking for shelf-stable items, but they’ll also give out hygiene products.
“It helps a lot,” he said.
Loaves and Fishes will be holding a Feed the Thousands event, whereby businesses can get involved. Kline encouraged businesses who get involved to make the even fun, by competing with other departments or incentivizing participation.
Samaritan House of Greenville
- 2723 Augusta St., Greenville
- Phone: 864-299-5898
- Clients served Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon
Loaves and Fishes Greenville
Harvest Hope
- Visit their website to get more information on volunteering.
- Click here for more information on giving financially.
- Drop off food at Greenville Triumph Soccer Club, 22 S. Main St., Greenville.
- Click here to host a food drive.
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October 29, 2021 at 01:06AM
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Thinking about giving back during the holidays? For Greenville's food banks, the need is never ending - Greenville Journal
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