Leadership South Carolina Class of 2009 Takes on Hunger
March 19, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – March 19, 2009 – – As tough economic times bite into almost every budget, the Leadership South Carolina Class of 2009 kicked off its class project Thursday by pledging to raise $100,000 by June 1 for the state’s four regional food banks.
The 50-member class launched its Hunger Never Takes a Break
campaign at the Harvest Hope Food Bank. The group will seek monetary donations to help feed more than 13 percent of the state’s population that lives in poverty.
Donations of money rather than food allow food banks to buy in bulk at substantial discounts. However, food donations always are welcome.
The class’ aim is to ensure the state’s food banks are stocked during the spring and summer school breaks.
When schools are closed for holidays and vacations, many families experience difficulty meeting basic food needs because children do not receive free or subsidized breakfasts and lunches, said Helen Munnerlyn, executive director of Leadership South Carolina.
For many children, the meals served in school are the only meals they can rely upon, she said. By definition, this is a group of leaders and they are taking charge of a most worthy cause.
Jermaine Husser, president of the S.C. Food Bank Association and executive director of the Lowcountry Food Bank, said monetary donations are vital because for every dollar donated, the food bank can use its bulk purchase power to buy meals for 10 hungry families.
The number of people using local food banks has increased by 40 percent since the economic crisis took hold. At Harvest Hope alone, 70 percent of people who used the food bank’s services in February did so for the first time.
More and more people are facing some tough choices, Husser said.
Leadership South Carolina is supported by Clemson University’s Institute for Economic and Community Development at the Sandhill Research and Education Center in Columbia.
Class members, drawn from across the state, volunteered at Harvest Hope for four hours on Thursday.
Class member Diane Howard, director of major gifts for Palmetto Health Foundation, said that when the class examined the issues facing South Carolina, the group quickly concluded that hunger is one of the state’s greatest needs, especially when so many people are losing their jobs.
So we proposed a project to alleviate hunger statewide, Howard said. Raising funds is clearly the most efficient way to get food to those who need it most.
Donations
To make a donation, mail a check to the S.C. Food Bank Association at P.O. Box 451, Columbia, SC 29202 or visit <www.scfoodbankassociation.org>http://www.scfoodbankassociation.org>www.scfoodbankassociation.org.
Donations also are accepted at any food bank location.
S.C. Food Bank Association Members
Harvest Hope Food Bank
Columbia
Marsha Thompson, <[email protected]>mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
803-254-4432 ext.113
Counties served: Calhoun, Clarendon, Chester, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Fairfield, Florence, Greenville, Kershaw, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda and Sumter
Lowcountry Food Bank
Charleston
Miriam Coombes, <[email protected]>mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
43-747-8146
Counties served: Berkeley, Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry Jasper and Williamsburg
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
Charlotte, N.C.
Kay Carter, <[email protected]>mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
864-376-1785
Counties served: Cherokee, Lancaster, Spartanburg, Union and York
Golden Harvest Food Bank
Aiken
Vikki Adkins, <[email protected]>mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
803-648-0752
Counties served: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, Oconee and Pickens
Leadership South Carolina
Leadership South Carolina was established in 1979 to provide gifted and highly motivated South Carolinians an opportunity to advance their leadership skills while broadening their understanding of issues facing the state.
Each year, approximately 55 individuals are selected through a competitive process. Selection is based on an applicant’s demonstrated abilities as a leader and on their past record of service in a leadership capacity.
For more information, visit
<www.leadershipsouthcarolina.net>http://www.leadershipsouthcarolina.net>www.leadershipsouthcarolina.net.
