Lowcountry Food Bank receives $120,000 in grants from Trident United Way

June 20, 2019

Grants will provide additional child hunger relief funding, fresh produce distributions and nutrition education

The Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) announced that it has been awarded $120,000 in 2019-2022 community investment grants from Trident United Way. The grants will enable the LCFB to conduct additional fresh produce distributions, implement nutrition education and provide child hunger relief to residents in the Charleston tri-county area.

Through the proposed Healthy Foods Initiative, the LCFB will achieve the following objectives through these grants in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties:

  • Distribution of more than 4.8 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in the community through direct-to-client distributions to more than 102,000 low-income and food-insecure children, adults, and seniors;
  • Conduct at least 175 farmers’ market-style fresh produce distributions annually in underserved, high-need communities;
  • Provide more than 900 children each year with fresh fruits and vegetables through kids’ choice mini-produce markets at approximately 20 child hunger-relief program partner sites;
  • Increase the annual percent of produce that comprises the LCFB’s total amount of food distributed to more than 29%;
  • Conduct annual Cooking Matters courses in collaboration with community partners with at least 165 participants including children, adults and seniors; conduct Cooking Matters at the Store tours with 450 adult and senior participants each year; and provide nutrition education and outreach to more than 25,000 individuals to promote higher fruit and vegetable consumption.

Through LCFB Child Hunger-Relief Programs, the LCFB will achieve the following objectives through these grants in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties:

  • Distribute more than 190,000 pounds of nutritious food to over 2,500 children annually utilizing LCFB child hunger-relief programs (BackPack Buddies, School Pantry, and School Markets) that best meet the nutritional needs of food-insecure children attending approximately 45 school and community partner sites;
  • Provide more than 127,500 nutritious meals to over 1,600 children annually through the Kids Café and Summer Meals program at approximately 30 school and community partner sites;
  • Establish additional School Markets creating a permanent food pantry in at least 4 high-need public schools.

 

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

The Lowcountry Food Bank serves the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina and distributed more than 30.5 million pounds of food in 2018. The Lowcountry Food Bank helps fight hunger by distributing food to nearly 300 partner agencies including soup kitchens, 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 and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.