Harvest Hope serves over 4,000 individuals in first week of COVID-19 response

Numbers expected to double this week as more businesses close

Last week, Harvest Hope Food Bank served over 4,000 individuals in its Emergency Food Pantry curbside service. Harvest Hope hasn’t seen numbers like this in its Emergency Food Pantry since the 1,000 Year Flood of 2015.

Last Monday, Harvest Hope distributed food to 449 individuals in the Midlands during its four-hour service time. By Friday, this number had nearly tripled to 1,237. Numbers this week are expected to continue to grow exponentially as more people try to put food on the table during these troubling times.

“We are seeing record numbers of individuals coming to our Emergency Food Pantry looking for help,” says Wendy Broderick, Harvest Hope CEO. “We are doing our best to try and be sure none of our neighbors go hungry during this crisis.”

With drastically higher numbers, Harvest Hope continues to look to the community to help with the critical need for donations. Monetary contributions and non-perishable food items are the most needed items currently.

Community members looking to help are encouraged to make a monetary donation at donate.harvesthope.org or mail a check to PO Box 451, Columbia, SC 29202, drop off non-perishable food items at the Midlands branch at 2220 Shop Road in Columbia, sign up to host a food drive or virtual food drive by emailing [email protected] or sign up to volunteer here.