Now available! Lowcountry Food Bank installs food lockers at its partner food pantry, North Strand Helping Hands

Food Lockers Enable Neighbors Who Seek Food Assistance to Order and Access Healthy Food During Hours Convenient to Them

Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) announced that one of its partner food pantries, North Strand Helping Hands, now has 28 food lockers to fill with free, healthy food for neighbors to access outside of regular food pantry operating hours.

The food locker funding comes from a partnership between Feeding America®, of which Lowcountry Food Bank is a partner food bank, and food service distributor US Foods’ Direct to Neighbor Project grant.

The lockers serve Northern Horry County and surrounding communities. Neighbors can place an online food order at orderahead.org, see food availability, and choose items they want to take home. By entering their zip code, neighbors can order food and schedule a pick-up time that is convenient for them. The lockers also serve as an emergency food access point for after-hours assistance.

“These lockers are a Godsend,” send Kelly Johnson, Director, North Strand Helping Hands. “Neighbors who need food assistance can order food at their convenience and pick it up early in the morning before work or after hours in the evening. This method of obtaining food breaks a big barrier to food access while food and other living expenses continue to rise.”

The food locker system uses Order Ahead software that is available through Feeding America-member food banks like Lowcountry Food Bank. Order Ahead is a fast, private, and easy way to order free food online.

Both frozen and refrigerated lockers accommodate fresh produce and shelf-stable food. The lockers are equipped with lighting and cameras to ensure safe pickup during evening or early morning hours. The lockers support discreet food pick-ups, are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, and adhere to Department of Energy efficiency ratings. Food locker software ensures that Lowcountry Food Bank can track locker usage and learn which foods neighbors are ordering most.

“I picked up my order last night around 9:00 p.m. and it was great! Being able to go at my own convenience was a gamechanger. Due to work, I have a hard time finding resources available after hours. The whole process from the first click to the time I drove away was so easy! And the food we received was all great. I’m so grateful for everything, especially the meats!” – said Amber – food locker user.

Food lockers are an innovative resource for reaching rural areas where there are fewer grocery stores, and they provide convenience for neighbors to obtain food outside of their working hours. “These wonderful food lockers help neighbors who may work and are only able to obtain food in the evening when most food pantries and grocery stores are closed,” said Kari Hanna, Lowcountry Food Bank’s Myrtle Beach Regional Facility Agency Relations Manager. “The lockers help folks access healthy food at times that are most convenient for them.”

Available food pickup times can be found on the Order Ahead website at orderahead.org. Additional pickup days will be added in the near future. Neighbors who experience food insecurity and wish to check food availability through the new lockers should visit orderahead.org.

For more information about LCFB programs, how to find food, volunteer, or make a monetary or food donation, visit lowcountryfoodbank.org.

About the Lowcountry Food Bank: Feed. Advocate. Empower.

The Lowcountry Food Bank serves the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina and distributed more than 45 million pounds of food in 2024. The Lowcountry Food Bank helps fight hunger by distributing food to more than 240 partner agencies including on-site meal programs, homeless shelters and emergency food pantries. The Lowcountry Food Bank advocates on behalf of those who experience hunger and helps empower people to make healthy and nutritious food choices. For more information, go to the Lowcountry Food Bank website at lowcountryfoodbank.org.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.

About US Foods

With a promise to help its customers Make It, US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 customer locations and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With more than 70 broadline locations and more than 90 cash and carry stores, US Foods and its 30,000 associates provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. Visit www.usfoods.com to learn more.