Florence's Harvest Hope celebrates food, truck donations

FLORENCE — Harvest Hope Food Bank got a bit more hopeful Friday with the donation of 30 boxes of canned goods and the addition of two refrigerated trucks.

Florence City Manager David Williams delivered 3,418 pounds of donated food to the pantry, which serves the Pee Dee area from its location at the Pee Dee Farmer’s Market.

Florence city employees started collecting canned goods Oct. 5 to help those less fortunate. Williams said in a press release the city is planning several fundraising events during the next several months to raise funds for Harvest Hope, as well.

Two Harvest Hope Food Bank refrigerated trucks already had 10,000 miles on them when officials recognized the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation for its $100,000 donation Friday.

Among those present for a press conference lauding the donation were Denise Holland, Harvest Hope’s chief executive officer, and Bradley Callicott, executive director of the foundation.

“The Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation has always proven to be a very strong supporter of Harvest Hope Food Bank,” Holland said. “The two refrigerated trucks behind us have already been put to good use.

“We have already logged 10,000 miles working in the Pee Dee to pick up and help distribute much needed food products to those families who are experiencing the emergency of not having enough food. It is with great thankfulness and a huge blessing to have Bradley Callicott here with us today.”

Holland said she hopes other local businesses will recognize the continuing enormous need and levels of hunger in the area.

“I hope they will open their hearts and pockets like Drs. Bruce and Lee,” she said.

“On behalf of the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation board of trustees, I would like to say what a high level of confidence we have in the Harvest Hope Food Bank,” Callicott said. “Our grant history goes back 10 years when we funded the first Harvest Hope refrigerated truck serving the Florence area. I understand it is still in operation.”

Callicott said with the events of 2008, the downturn in the economy and the stress of unemployment, the board was “very cognizant” of the need for the refrigerated trucks.

“It is an incredible donation and it helps us do what we need to do to get hungry people fed,” he said. “Our sincere thanks to you.”

Harvest Hope has offices in Florence, Columbia, Greenville and Lexington. It provides for the ongoing need of hungry people.

“We’ve had more than a 100 percent increase in the demand for helping hungry people over the same time period last year,” Holland said. “Harvest Hope serves 20 counties. Overall, that means that one in seven households is at some point during the month having trouble and worrying about how to put food on the table.”

Holland said it’s devastating to know that in South Carolina one in four children under 5 goes to bed hungry every night.

“Here in the Pee Dee we work with over 150 member agencies,” she said. “It is our mission to help our agencies with a good supply and high quality of food to meet those needs.”

In addition to the member agencies, Harvest Hope has a variety of individual services such as its own emergency food pantry in the Pee Dee.

“We’ve had to go to those services because the demand is so high,” Holland said. “We’re seeing as many as 50 to 60 individuals a day who have no place else to turn, but know that we are here.”

About Harvest Hope

The food is donated to Harvest Hope Food Bank is distributed to more than 400 member agencies throughout 20 South Carolina counties, including Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Marion, Marlboro and Florence.

Harvest Hope’s Pee Dee branch is located at 2513 W. Lucas St., at the Pee Dee State Farmer’s Market, in Florence. It can be reached at (843) 661-0826.

On average, Harvest Hope sees a complete turnover of the product in its warehouse every seven to 10 days.

Food and volunteers are always needed, and food drives are always welcome. The food pantry is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The most needed food items include:

• Canned meat and fish

• Peanut butter (in plastic jars)

• Canned vegetables and fruits

• Breakfast cereal

• Personal care items (soap, shampoo, etc.)

• Any nutritionally dense foods

• Frozen turkeys for holiday boxes. Call for information on how to donate frozen products.

Those with questions about sponsoring a food drive are asked to contact Michael Murphy at (843) 661-0826 or e-mail mmurphy@harvesthope.org. Wholesalers, retailers or manufacturers interested in donating product and/or fresh produce should contact Chris Daly at (803) 254-4432 ext. 1123 or cdaly@harvesthope.org.

On the Web:

Harvest Hope Food Bank, www.harvesthope.org

— WBTW News13’s Patricia Burkett contributed to this report.