FAQs

Food insecurity, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Hunger is an individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity.

In 2024, in the coastal counties of South Carolina that Lowcountry Food Banks serves, the food insecurity rate was 12% of the population. Nearly 50% of the neighbors we serve are children and seniors.

Once Lowcountry Food Bank receives, inspects, and sorts food at either of our three regional distribution centers (Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Early Branch), our 240+ partner agencies distribute food to those who experience food insecurity. Agencies include faith-based food pantries, on-site feeding programs, residential facilities, and direct-service, non-profit organizations. Agencies are responsible for nearly 90% of the total pounds of food we distribute, including fresh produce. Some agencies pick up food at Lowcountry Food Bank for their distribution, or we may deliver food to them.

Lowcountry Food Bank serves the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina, which covers about 9,000 square miles of the state. Our Northern region is comprised of Horry, Williamsburg and Georgetown counties. Our Tri-County region is comprised of Dorchester, Berkeley and Charleston counties. Our Southern region serves Colleton, Hampton, Jasper, and Beaufort counties.

Lowcountry Food Bank has a fleet of trucks, including 15 refrigerated box trucks, three 53’ refrigerated trailers, one 38’ refrigerated trailer, three tractors and three cargo vans. More than a dozen Lowcountry Food Bank professional drivers traveled 325,000 miles to deliver food in 2024.

Lowcountry Food Bank drivers pick up food from about 57 retail partners three to four times every week. Drivers pick up food from farmers during harvest season – January through November.

To help provide fair food distribution where it is needed, Lowcountry Food Bank also holds direct mobile food distributions in communities throughout coastal South Carolina to reach our neighbors who may not have access to a food pantry.

Yes! 38% of the food that Lowcountry Food Bank distributed in 2024, about 17.5 million pounds, was fresh produce. We focus on both the amount of hunger relief we provide and access to nutritious food. We strive to provide fair access to food sources throughout the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina we serve.

Food banks are nonprofit organizations that collect, purchase, and rescue donated food to feed individuals who experience food insecurity through the food bank’s community partners and agencies. The Food Bank is a distribution center where the food is gathered, sorted, inspected for safety, and then made available to agencies, community partners or food pantries. Food pantries are the partner agencies and churches that distribute food directly to their communities.

The best way to support Lowcountry Food Bank is through financial donations or by hosting a virtual fundraiser. Monetary donations help provide the highest quality of food and create more meals for our neighbors.

Lowcountry Food Bank has strict standards for routine food handling protocols to ensure food safety. We have regular food safety inspections from national, independent entities (like USDA, AIB, and Feeding America) and work to maintain the highest level of cleanliness and sanitation for the safety of the food we provide to our partner agencies, as well as those who enter our facilities to support our work.

A virtual fundraiser event is hosted online by an organization or an individual with the goal to raise monetary funds. A virtual fundraiser involves a nonprofit campaign or event that takes place entirely online or virtually, allowing supporters to engage with Lowcountry Food Bank from anywhere to raise monetary funds.   

A food drive is defined as physically collecting food for people who experience food insecurity.

Did you know that a food bank purchases healthy and nutritious food at a much lower cost than the average consumer who shops in a grocery store? At Lowcountry Food Bank, we purchase fresh produce, meat and dairy items by the truckload. We can make your monetary donation go so much further than donated food items. When you host a virtual food drive, you are helping provide nutritious, perishable food items that provide much-needed nutrition to those in our community who experience hunger. Our mission at Lowcountry Food Bank is not only to feed our community but to provide nutritious and healthy options.

To make our programs the most efficient, we procure and purchase items pre-approved or recommended by the USDA and/or MUSC health dietitians. Because we try to feed as many people as possible, we purchase these items well in advance and in large quantities. Lowcountry Food Bank follows DHEC food safety laws, which help us maintain the integrity of our food supply. Learn more about collecting food items for Lowcountry Food Bank.

We offer several resources to help our supporters host a food drive. Below are links to guides, checklist and more.

• Food & Fund Drive Guide
• Most-Needed Items Flyer
• Fund & Food Drive Flyer

These are the items that we need the most:

• Canned tuna and meats
• Low-sugar cereals
• Baby food
• Peanut butter
• Whole grain rice, pasta and oats
• 100% fruit juice
• Low-sodium soups and stews
• Canned fruits and vegetables

Yes, LCFB branded food drive boxes are available in the lobbies of our Charleston and Myrtle Beach locations, Monday-Friday, 8 am – 3pm. The boxes are not mandatory; you’re welcome to use your own boxes or reusable bags if you prefer. 

Charleston Facility

When dropping off your donations to the Charleston facility, please use the driveway on the right side of the building and go to the second bay door. There, you can ring the buzzer, and someone will help you unload supplies. 

Myrtle Beach/Early Branch Locations

A member of our staff will be glad to help you at the main entrance to these locations.

We greatly appreciate donations being brought to our facility, which allows our drivers to focus on delivering food to our neighbors in need. However, in the event that you cannot, we can schedule a pickup for a minimum of 500 pounds/canned goods. Please note that we need at least 5+ business days notice to schedule a pickup.

If you would like a receipt for your donation, it is imperative that you ask for and completely fill one out with a food bank employee when dropping off your donation. This ensures you leave with a receipt in hand and that we have accurate information to send you a thank you letter. The letter will also formally recognize your donation for tax purposes.

If you have questions about hosting a fund drive, contact us.

If you have questions about hosting a food drive, please contact us.