COVID-19: How You Can Help
You need only to listen to the news or check your social media pages to see the economic impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our community. Many of you have reached out to see how you can help your neighbors in need. We put together the guide below as a quick reference.
WAYS TO HELP
As a 501(c)3, L&F appreciates your cash gifts and donations as they allow for the flexibility to meet needs quickly and keep the L&F trucks on the road. Visit this link on your smartphone or computer to make your gift today. Every dollar makes a difference.
Do you want to donate non-perishable food? Call 864-232-3595 to arrange a drop-off time. Our staff will come out to the curb wearing masks and gloves to unload your donation directly from your vehicle safely. Click here for a wish list of items we need.
Sheltering at home? Amazon shoppers can benefit L&F in two ways: proceeds from all Amazon purchases can benefit L&F through Amazon Smile, and/or you can purchase non-perishable food from our Amazon Wishlist and have them shipped directly to L&F (25 Woods Lake, Suite 810 Greenville, SC 29607.)
Not an Amazon user, feel free to use your favorite online grocery or bulk store sites to have your donation delivered. Here is our wish list of the items that are most needed.
We are so grateful for your support. Because of you, we can feed over 250,000 food insecure people each year. Thank you!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hungry to Help Local Food Rescue
CONTACT: Tessa May, Executive Director, Loaves & Fishes, 864-232-3595, tessa@loavesandfishesgreenville.org
Greenville, SC (May 6, 2020)— Loaves & Fishes, a local food rescue organization, launched its “Hungry to Help: Food and Funds Drive” campaign on May 1st, 2020 to collect much needed non-perishable food items and funds to support their partner agencies who are in need. The campaign ends May 31, 2020 and aims to attract 200 additional donors before the month is over.
As the economic impact of the COVID-19 continues to be felt in Greenville County, more families are seeking assistance than ever before. Record unemployment has caused even middle-class families who have never needed food assistance previously to request it. Thankfully, many of those less financially impacted are looking for ways to assist their neighbors in need.
Only 11 of our 101 agencies have been forced to suspend their service due to health concerns for their older volunteers or the children they serve. Loaves & Fishes (L&F) continues to provide fresh food seven days a week to agencies, thanks to generous food donation partners and supporters. The highest need at this time is for shelf-stable nonperishable items and the funds needed to deliver them.
The Hungry to Help Food & Funds Drive aims to attract 200 Greenvillians to support Loaves & Fishes in their effort to fill agency shelves.
You can help in these keyways:
- To avoid additional handling, L&F recommends non-perishable food items be purchased online and shipped directly to Loaves & Fishes for distribution. L&F is eligible for Amazon Smile which means a percentage of your food purchase will also be gifted to L&F. Suggested items: dried beans, rice, canned tuna, fruit cups and canned pasta. A full list of needed items can be found on the organizations campaign webpage at https://loavesandfishesgreenville.com/hungry-to-help/.
Those wishing to drop off food donations to the Loaves & Fishes’ office should call ahead to arrange a curbside drop off.
- Make your gift online today: https://bit.ly/2KZHIwE. Every dollar you give is used to support the mission of L&F.
Loaves & Fishes extends a special thanks to ORBIS Corporation and 3M Foundation, after receiving unexpected but much need donations during this critical time. ORBIS provide $2,600 donation and 50 washable masks produced by ORBIS and 3M provided a $5,000 contribution, both of which inspired the launch of the “Hungry to Help” campaign.
“ORBIS Corporation powered by Menasha Corporation has always recognized the needs of assisting those in the communities in which we operate. The work that Loaves and Fishes does for the community is especially valued during the pandemic and time of uncertainty for many in our community. ORBIS recognizes this and is privileged to provide this support during such a trying time,” stated Jamie Rhyne, Plant Manager ORBIS Corporation.
“3Mgives and 3M Foundation together is supporting a range of nonprofits dedicated to meeting the needs of our operating communities around the world, including right here in the Greenville community, with plans for immediate relief and long-term recovery. Loaves and Fishes is able to supply food to our most vulnerable populations and because they rescue food that would otherwise be wasted, we felt their organization was also helping our local restaurants due to reduced traffic or closure during the shelter in place orders,” said Lydia Lively, 3M Greenville’s Human Resources Supervisor.
WEB: https://loavesandfishesgreenville.com/hungry-to-help/
ADDRESS: 25 Woods Lake Road, Suite 810, Greenville, SC 29607
PHONE: 864-232-3595
ABOUT: Loaves & Fishes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established in 1991 to reduce hunger in Greenville County by rescuing unspoiled, surplus food before it is wasted. We believe that common sense solutions to reducing hunger exist and thanks to the many local grocery stores and farms, eateries, and community gardens we can eliminate the costly, logistical challenge of transporting food safely from place to place. The simple connection between surplus food and hungry bellies is a Loaves & Fishes truck. Our drivers and volunteers rescue food and deliver it daily free of charge to 101 of our partner agencies. Our goal is to eliminate food insecurity among neighbors by working hard to collect good food before it goes to waste.
Going Online to Feed the Hungry
Greenville, SC (March 18, 2020)— Loaves & Fishes is taking its annual fundraiser to its quarantined supporters.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, Loaves & Fishes has decided to cancel the 25th Anniversary Taste of the Upstate event scheduled for April 5th, 2020. This decision was made after a thorough review of state and federal recommendations along with discussions with our restaurant partners. Alternatively, Loaves & Fishes will host a live online auction beginning Sunday April 5th at 11:30 AM. Details about the auction will soon be available on our website and Facebook pages.
Before the COVID-19 virus began to spread, there were an estimated 63,000 food secure people in the Upstate, a number that climbs higher with each passing day. Counterintuitively, 27% of grocery stores and food distribution centers’ unspoiled, surplus food supply goes to waste, resulting in 133 billion pounds of good food being trashed each year.
Safely transporting food is costly. So–much–so that it prohibits unspoiled, surplus food from being donated to food pantries directly. Loaves & Fishes (L&F) eliminates the costly, logistical challenge of transporting food safely from place to place with their fleet of refrigerated trucks and trained drivers.
L&F’s two full–time and 4 part–time staffers facilitate this transfer with the help of generous volunteers and donors and proceeds from the annual Taste of the Upstate event. Due to the COVID-19 virus, and a sharp rise in need for services, the event’s typical silent auction will instead take place online starting at 11:30am Sunday, April 5th.
The COVID-19 virus has caused a surge in the number of those needing emergency food services as more South Carolinians are unable to work. As businesses and schools shutter, many families must suddenly grapple with this new reality and emergency social service providers face never-before-seen demand. The 101 food pantries and agencies that Loaves & Fishes serves are asking for more food. While South Carolina can now boast 479 grocery stores, thanks to multiple large chains moving into SC in the past year, donations from grocers have diminished significantly due to grocery stores shelves being emptied by panicked consumers.
The 2020 Taste of the Upstate is generously supported by Bell Carrington Price & Gregg, Primsa Health, Greenville Heritage Federal Credit Union, Piedmont Natural Gas, Pinnacle Financial Partner, Bon Secours Wellness Arena, United Community Bank, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, Quality Business Solutions, Amamco Tool, Metromont Corporation, NAI Earle Furman, Cascades Verdae, Gordon Food Services, Benefitfocus, The Buying Source, Green Cloud Technologies, Bon Secours Health System, the Bank of Travelers Rest, Open Art Studio, and media sponsors WSPA, HOT 98.1 and 107.3 JAMZ.
WAYS TO HELP
As a 501(c)3, L&F appreciates your cash gifts and donations as they allow for the flexibility to meet needs quickly and keep the L&F trucks on the road. Visit this link on your smartphone or computer to make your gift today. Every dollar makes a difference.
Do you have non-perishable food items to donate? Call 864-232-3595 to arrange a drop-off time.
Quarantined at home? Amazon shoppers can benefit L&F in two ways: proceeds from all Amazon purchases can benefit L&F through Amazon Smile, and/or you can purchase non-perishable food from Amazon and have them shipped directly to L&F (25 Woods Lake, Suite 810 Greenville, SC 29607.) Visit smile.amazon.com for details.
Attend the online auction April 5th and share the auction with your friends. Follow and “like” Loaves & Fishes on Facebook @tasteoftheupstate.
WEB: www.loavesandfishesgreenville.com, https://www.facebook.com/tasteoftheupstate/
CONTACT: Tessa May, Interim Executive Director, Loaves & Fishes, 864-232-3595, tessa@loavesandfishesgreenville.org
ABOUT: Loaves & Fishes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established in 1991 to reduce hunger in Greenville County by rescuing unspoiled, surplus food before it is wasted. We believe that common sense solutions to reducing hunger exist and thanks to the many local grocery stores and farms, eateries, and community gardens we can eliminate the costly, logistical challenge of transporting food safely from place to place. The simple connection between surplus food and hungry bellies is a Loaves & Fishes truck. Our drivers and volunteers rescue food and deliver it daily free of charge to 101 of our partner agencies. Our goal is to eliminate food insecurity among neighbors by working hard to collect good food before it goes to waste.