Lowcountry Food Bank recently welcomed nearly 160 attendees representing 88 partner agencies from across our 10 coastal counties for the 2026 Agency Conference, presented by Food Lion Feeds. The annual event brought together food pantry representatives, nonprofit leaders, and community partners for a full day of networking, collaboration, and learning centered around this year’s theme: “Feed. Advocate. Empower.” Throughout the conference, attendees participated in breakout sessions and discussions designed to strengthen agency operations and support neighbors across the Lowcountry with dignity and care.
This year’s featured keynote speaker was Ron Pringle, President and CEO of Inter Faith Food Shuttle and former Chief Operating Officer of Lowcountry Food Bank. Drawing from more than 25 years of leadership in the nonprofit and food security sectors, Pringle shared insights on community engagement, equitable food systems, and the importance of building long term nutrition security rooted in listening and compassion. His message reflected the heart of the conference and encouraged agencies to continue creating spaces where neighbors feel supported, welcomed, and empowered.
For Joanna Bruno, Vice President of Agency Relations and Regional Food Centers at Lowcountry Food Bank, one of the most meaningful parts of the conference was seeing the connection agencies felt with one another throughout the day. “Although our agencies vary tremendously from one another, you can sense that they feel united in their passion and effort to nourish our neighbors,” said Bruno. “No matter what size their agency is, how much funding they have, how often they serve, or what religion they are, they share the same desire to support their community.”
Attendees also had the opportunity to take part in a variety of breakout sessions covering topics such as marketing strategies for busy agency teams, volunteer stewardship, inclusive pantry environments, fundraising, SNAP outreach, and creative nutrition education. The conference created space for agencies to connect with one another, exchange ideas, and discover new ways to better serve their communities. According to Bruno, opportunities like the Agency Conference are especially important because they give agencies intentional time to learn directly from one another, ask questions, and share best practices. “Investing in our partner agencies is critical as they do the day-in and day-out work of Lowcountry Food Bank’s mission,” added Bruno. “They distribute over 90% of the food our organization distributes and make our goals possible by ensuring quality, nutritious food is available to neighbors consistently throughout our service area.”
Click here to take a peek at more photos from this year’s Agency Conference!
About the Lowcountry Food Bank: Feed. Advocate. Empower.
The Lowcountry Food Bank serves the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina and distributed more than 42 million pounds of food in 2025. The Lowcountry Food Bank helps fight hunger by distributing food to nearly 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, visit the Lowcountry Food Bank website.
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