News

Lowcountry Food Bank Receives an Additional $20,000 Grant from Bank of America to Continue Fight Against Hunger in Coastal South Carolina

Published

2 years ago

June 29, 2022

Press Release

Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) announced today it has received a $20,000 grant from Bank of America for operating support to assist hunger-relief efforts throughout the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina LCFB serves. The timing of this latest funding from the bank is particularly helpful as LCFB works to ensure that seniors, veterans, individuals, families, and children do not have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from, especially during summer months while students are out of school. This grant brings Bank of America’s commitment in 2022 to $45,000.

In addition, nearly 200 Bank of America and Merrill Lynch teammates sponsored and packed 500 Lowcountry Food Bank BackPack Buddies bags in Charleston this month. BackPack Buddies helps alleviate weekend hunger among food-insecure schoolchildren with nutritious and kid-friendly food each Friday during the school year and five weeks during the summer.

“Bank of America is committed to driving change for good and eliminating barriers like hunger that drive inequality and create disparities. Our support aims to address a critical need and provide access – especially for children – to nutritious food,” said Mark Munn, president, Bank of America Charleston/Hilton Head. “Our longstanding partnership with the Lowcountry Food Bank helps support our neighbors who face hunger in coastal South Carolina and offers our employees the opportunity to engage in the community and become part of the solution.”

The food insecurity rate in coastal South Carolina is more than 11%, resulting in more than 161,000 individuals who face hunger every day, which includes more than 45,000 children not having consistent access to the healthy food they need to live healthy, active lives. This grant will help LCFB distribute food to more than 250 partner agencies, including non-profit and faith-based organizations that operate on-site meal programs, homeless shelters, and emergency food pantries.

Fresh produce comprises at least 30% of the food distributed to our neighbors who face hunger; LCFB aims for meat, fish and poultry to comprise 14% of the food distributed, and 5% dairy. LCFB projects at least 172 fresh produce and mobile pantry distributions in under-resourced and disproportionately affected communities this year, along with nutrition education opportunities for families, which provide a long-term solution to hunger by providing support about how to shop and prepare healthy meals on a budget.

In February 2022, Bank of America donated $25,000 to address food insecurity in Charleston as part of the bank’s unique approach to encouraging employees to get their Covid-19 vaccine booster shot. This donation helped create 150,000 meals for individuals and families who face hunger throughout the 10-county region. Bank of America has provided donations to Lowcountry Food Bank for 12 years, totaling more than $260,000.

“We greatly appreciate Bank of America’s longstanding dedication to help strengthen the communities it serves here in the Lowcountry,” said Nick Osborne, Lowcountry Food Bank President and CEO. “Their efforts ensure that children, individuals and families who face hunger can enjoy healthy food and thrive, as the pandemic continues to present challenges to our neighbors who experience hunger.”

To learn more about Lowcountry Food Bank, visit our website at lowcountryfoodbank.org.