Harvest Hope Food Bank officials sent out an urgent plea Thursday, asking for help in feeding people in the Pee Dee area who are hungry.
Due to the economic downturn, the group's press release said, Harvest Hope Food Bank has seen a 39 percent increase in families needing assistance with food this year. The Pee Dee Branch serves eight counties, Florence, Darlington, Marion, Dillon, Clarendon, Lee, Marlboro and Chesterfield and in those eight counties are approximately 170 member agencies, including churches, soup kitchens, shelters, camps, residential facilities, etc.
Their clients have increased dramatically. People are hurting and families are having to make choices between food and medicine or food and paying bills, the press release said. Children and senior citizens are suffering the most and more than 30 percent of Harvest Hope’s clients are under the age of 18.
In South Carolina, the press release said, one in every five children are hungry and one in every five seniors are hungry. Harvest Hope Food Bank is in urgent need of non-perishable food items.
Statistics sited in the press release said that $1 given to the food bank provides 10 pounds of food; That one pound of food serves a meal; so one dollar provides 10 meals; That of every $1 donated, $.98 goes directly to food programs.
Interestd individuals can donate food, money, time or organize a food drive. Harvest Hope Food Bank, Pee Dee Branch is at 2513 W. Lucas Street, inside the Pee Dee State Farmer’s Market, on U.S. Highway 52 in Florence. Donations may also be made on-line at www.harvesthope.org. To make a donation or to schedule a tour of the facility, call Patsy Y. Sawyer at Harvest Hope, (843) 661-0826. Sawyer is Director of the Pee Dee Branch of the Harvest Hope Food Bank.
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