Sep 17, 2020 | Impact, News
Believe it or not, food deserts do exist in urban areas. Why? Because all neighborhoods in cities are not equal. Grocery stores don’t want to put down roots in low-income neighborhoods because they fear they won’t be successful. In Greenville, Mill Village Farms is changing that landscape and stepping up their efforts to make sure residents get fresh, locally grown produce during the coronavirus pandemic.
“With the Eat Smart Move More Rapid Response Mini-Grant funding, we were able to purchase the produce for 300 FoodShare boxes. Each box contains enough produce for a family of four for about two weeks,” said Dan Weidenbenner, executive director at Mill Village Farms.
They partnered with 24 partner sites in priority locations throughout Greenville County and their drive-thru site at the United Way of Greenville County to distribute an average of 1,300 FoodShare boxes in the month of May to SNAP participants and those who self-identified as in need. In addition, they gained at least 20 new partner agencies (churches and community organizations) throughout Greenville County who are interested in partnering to distribute FoodShare boxes in the community.
“Since receiving the Eat Smart Move More Rapid Response Mini-Grant, we have raised an additional $100,000 through a virtual culinary concert fundraiser and have partnered with produce suppliers to distribute 500 additional fresh produce boxes per week through the USDA Farmer to Families Food Box Program,” said Weidenbenner.
Mill Village Farms transforms vacant properties into bountiful gardens to grow locally sourced produce for communities that often have limited access to fresh and local foods. Their goal is to empower youth with experiences in basic job skills, sustainable agriculture, and entrepreneurship. The produce grown in their gardens is shared with youth and residents and used in FoodShare boxes. For more information, visit the Mill Village Farms website.
FoodShare South Carolina is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure access to fresh produce for everyone in all communities. They want to enhance the quality of life by creating access to fresh affordable food, quality cooking and skills education. There are five locations around the state: Columbia, Greenville, Orangeburg, Spartanburg, and Lee County. For more information about FoodShare South Carolina and their locations, visit their website.
Sep 17, 2020 | Impact, News
Imagine living in a large, rural area that only has one grocery store. Add COVID-19, social distancing, school closings, and increased unemployment to that scenario. Do you think you would have a tough time finding food to feed your family? About 24,000 people in western Orangeburg County did, and they continue to struggle to find healthy food.
The Pine Hill Indian Community Development Initiative (PHICDI) stepped in to provide healthy food to more than just their American Indian population. They help all families in need, and they continue to do that to this day. Eat Smart Move More South Carolina awarded PHICDI a mini-grant for food distribution supplies that supplemented their existing food distribution events.
“Our ongoing COVID-19 emergency food distribution began May 8 on alternating weeks through September 4th. Each food distribution reached approximately 300 people,” said Michelle Mitchum, Chief of Pine Hill Indian Tribe.
Funds were used to purchase bags for the food distributions and assembly equipment to increase the efficiency of distribution preparations. Existing partners and community volunteers assisted with event preparation and food distributions.
PHICDI’s mission is to rejuvenate western Orangeburg county through developing programs that create and balance food security, access to healthcare, educational success, create jobs, preserve history, and celebrate the rich heritage represented in the area. To learn more about the Pine Hill Indian Community Development Initiative, visit their website or Facebook page.
Sep 17, 2020 | Impact, News
Since the days of enslavement, the Gullah Geechee community has faced injustice, hardships, and many challenges that have shaped their integrity and commitment to sustaining their culture and their people. When COVID-19 hit, Gullah Geechee organizations, particularly on St. Helena Island in Beaufort County, came to the rescue of those in need of food due to unemployment, school closures, and other causes of food insecurity.
Gullah Geechee Initiative Foundation, Inc. (GGIF) received a Rapid Response Grant from Eat Smart Move More South Carolina to assist in purchasing healthy food and personal protective equipment specifically for a food distribution event centered around Juneteenth – the annual celebration commemorating freedom for slaves.
“Eat Smart Move More South Carolina was the first to contribute to our food distribution project. This allowed us to leverage additional funding from businesses such as Walmart,” said Kamal Wigfall, executive director of GGIF.
More than 200 bags of non-perishable food and 150 boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables were given away to anyone in need. In addition to free food, dental products and voter registration forms were also distributed.
They leveraged funds and other resources through partners like Community Resource Center North Charleston, Simba League, Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, SC DHEC, Walmart Nos. 7181 and 1383, Marshview Community Organic Farm, Girl Scouts Troop 4105, and the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration & Elections.
GGIF is a non-profit organization that provides athletic, cultural, and academic services to the young people of St. Helena Island, SC, preparing them for community service and a life of excellence. They foster knowledge of self and preventing youth from engaging in juvenile delinquency and performing poorly academically.
For more information about the Gullah Geechee Initiative Foundation, Inc. visit their website.
Sep 17, 2020 | Impact, News
The Gullah Geechee people aren’t strangers to living off the land and consuming fresh, locally grown produce. They cherish their culture – from food and music to ways of life and their people. When the coronavirus pandemic reared its ugly face, Marshview Community Organic Farm sprang into action and applied for a Rapid Response Grant to deliver free, hot meals to seniors, children, and families at risk of food insecurity on St. Helena Island in Beaufort County.
“We are blessed to have such caring and compassionate supporters, who have not only opened their hearts but their wallets to help meet the needs of our community. When we pull together to help one another, we all reap a blessing,” said Sara Reynolds Green, owner of Marshview Community Organic Farm.
In conjunction with the South Carolina Coastal Community Development Corporation, the Gullah Grub Restaurant, the New Life Deliverance Temple and a host of other community organizations, Marshview Community Organic Farm and their partners delivered 2,450 hot meals over seven weeks.
“Meals delivered to senior citizens in their homes adds a vital layer of social contact and informal wellness checks for this vulnerable population,” said Green. “The single parents and the disabled populations are served through the drive-through meal pick-up and volunteers delivering to their homes.”
Marshview Community Organic Farm is a sanctuary for youth to learn about farming and work the land to provide local produce to the community in hopes of improving the health of the community. The farm focuses on training and promoting sustainable agriculture, traditional Gullah style cooking, eating and planting in season, healthy eating habits, and character development. Sara’s husband, Chef Bill Green, owns and runs the Gullah Grub, a restaurant that serves Gullah cuisine using produce from the farm.
On a side note, South Carolina’s Gullah Geechee communities, Marshview Community Organic Farm, and the Gullah Grub restaurant are all featured in an episode of Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi on Hulu.
The Green’s and their partners continue their efforts to feed the community during the pandemic. To learn more about this effort, visit the Marshview Community Organic Farm website or their Facebook page.
Sep 17, 2020 | Impact, News
Christian-based organizations across the state have stepped up their mission-driven work to help their communities in times of crisis. In His Name-Colleton is one of those organizations that recognized the increased food insecurity problem caused by COVID-19 and need help to reach more people. They applied for a Rapid Response Grant from Eat Smart Move More South Carolina to pay for healthy food and personal protective equipment associated with their food distribution program.
For four weeks, In His Name-Colleton prepared and delivered 1,119 meals and 485 bags of vegetables and fruit. People of all ages pitched in to make the distributions happen. In addition to the grant, they received additional funds from community members, and they partnered with Faith Church Walterboro and Borden Dairy to distribute 300 gallons of milk each week for six weeks. That’s a lot of milk!
In His Name-Colleton was able to reach more seniors, homebound, low-income, and single-parent families than they normally do through their food, hygiene, and shelter efforts.
In His Name-Colleton is a 501(c)(3) interdenominational Christian-based organization dedicated to feeding, clothing, sheltering, and supporting individuals and families in Colleton County, especially those suffering an immediate crisis.
To learn more about In His Name-Colleton, visit their Facebook page.
