By Karen Owens, Publisher
March is National Nutrition Month. The Lowcountry Food Bank and its partner agencies provide nutritious foods for our neighbors in the 10 coastal counties and empower them to choose the healthy options that will nourish their families. I recently had the privilege of speaking with Heather Singleton, director of the Northern Region Food Center for Lowcountry Food Bank. Her facility works to provide food for 67,000 residents living in Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties.
Georgetown SC Gazette:
So how does your team work together with local pantries in your service area to address the growing problem of food insecurity? 
Heather Singleton:
We have a variety of ways we provide food assistance to our local partner agencies, of which there are 54 organizations in Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties. We partner with 11 organizations in Georgetown County, including Helping Hands of Georgetown, the Salvation Army and Baskervill Food Pantry in Pawleys Island. We also work with area churches, and Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Dunbar and Murrells Inlet Church of God are probably two of our biggest distribution sites in your area.
Depending on the agency’s preference, we deliver food collected from food drives, through retail rescue efforts from area grocery stores, and food we receive from the US Department of Agriculture. Some organizations have us deliver once or twice a month, but they are always welcome to place extra orders for delivery or can arrange to pick-up food from our Myrtle Beach facility if their supplies are running low. Last year, we surpassed our previous year’s deliveries to our partner agencies by one million pounds.
Georgetown SC Gazette:
What are the biggest barriers for people getting food?
Heather Singleton:
Transportation is probably the biggest challenge people face, especially in rural areas of the county. If you don’t have money for food, you probably don’t have extra money for gas, or you may not have access to a vehicle. We work to distribute food at alternate locations where there aren’t grocery stores available or where transportation can be a barrier for attending a distribution site.
We also partner with health agencies, like St. James Health & Wellness, to provide food at their medical clinics so when someone is there receiving healthcare services, he or she can take advantage of the food pantry as well.
Through the Feeding America network, we have seven retail rescue partners who provide fresh food items from grocery stores, such as bakery goods, meat, and produce to supplement non-perishable items. Publix even helped us purchase a specialized delivery truck with doors that swing out and allow us to serve areas with no pavement.
Many of our partner agencies have secured grants to help them purchase pick-up trucks, freezers, refrigerators, and even pallet jacks to assist them with collecting and distributing food to their neighbors.
Georgetown SC Gazette:
How have you embraced innovation and technology to enhance your food distribution operations?
Heather Singleton:
Technology has been a key investment in our operations as we strive to strategically distribute the right amount of food to the right locations, and at the right frequency. We know that once a month is not really addressing people’s food needs.
We are data driven and are constantly updating our maps and metrics to ensure we are targeting the areas with the highest incident of food insecurity. Then we coordinate to deliver and distribute food in multiple locations and times so that these individuals and families can have access to the food they need, when they need it.
Another innovation we have implemented in Horry County is allowing people to order food ahead online. We provide QR codes where they can choose what items they want and need, which restores dignity. It’s more compassionate than just giving people a box of items that are on hand. They feel like they are shopping for their families, and when it’s ready, they can visit our refrigerated food lockers (similar to Amazon) to pick up their food.
We also support Backpack Buddy programs throughout the region, which sends food home with students for the weekends, when they don’t have access to breakfast and lunches at school.
Georgetown SC Gazette:
What is the most important message you have for my readers about why their support is vital to your mission and helps our local community? What action should they take today to better support the Lowcountry Food Bank?
Heather Singleton:
Community support is essential to the Lowcountry Food Bank’s mission of ensuring that all our neighbors have access to healthy food. Every donation, volunteer hour, and act of advocacy helps provide meals and support to families, children, and seniors who may be facing difficult times. When people come together to support us, they are strengthening the entire community and helping neighbors in need.
Readers who want to make an immediate difference can take action today by donating or signing up to volunteer at lowcountryfoodbank.org. Even a small contribution of time or resources helps provide meals and hope to local families throughout the 10 coastal counties we serve.
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