Duke Energy follows support of Gratefull Greenville with $25,000 grant to help restaurant workers in need

Duke Energy was humbled to be the presenting sponsor of Gratefull Greenville, and overwhelmed by the community’s response to “come together to share a conversation and a meal.”

More than 5,000 meals were prepared and served by local restaurants and their amazing staff members, many of whom have challenges of their own this holiday season and particularly from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

In recognition of these workers and as part of the company’s monthlong campaign to fight hunger in South Carolina, the Duke Energy Foundation is awarding a grant of $25,000 to the Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit that provides crisis relief funding for those “who put food on the table.”

“We’ve granted almost $700,000 to nearly 500 food and beverage workers affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton so far,” said Lindsey Brown, executive director of Southern Smoke Foundation. Of that number, 46 workers were from South Carolina with still more than 2,500 applications yet to process, she said.

“We’re working as quickly as possible to fund everyone who qualifies,” Brown said. “Thank you to Duke Energy for caring about the food and beverage industry and the vital role it plays in communities across the country and especially South Carolina.”

For more information on the Southern Smoke Foundation, visit www.southernsmoke.org.