Second Helpings, the nonprofit food rescue organization, and the food pantries and soup kitchens they supply on Hilton Head Island are taking action to increase the amount of food available on the Island and to reach out to those who need food.
This increased collaboration is driven by the following concerns:
- Feeding America estimates that several thousand people who live on the island, plus more who commute to work here, are food insecure. Many are difficult to reach because of cultural barriers.
- More recent data from the Hilton Head agencies suggest the overall need has grown on the island.Most agencies reported a sharp increase in the number of people needing food in October and November, as high inflation is depleting savings.
St. Andrew’s by the Sea (SABTS), Grateful Hearts, Holy Family St. Vincent DePaul Society, St. Francis, the Deep Well Project, the Sandalwood Community Food Pantry, and the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head are Second Helpings’ agency partners on Hilton Head Island, providing help to those who are food insecure.
To help meet the increased need for food, Second Helpings is revising food rescue routes to bring more food to those agencies who are able to feed more clients. Second Helpings is also looking for another agency partner to help distribute food and work with those who need it.
Agencies located on the south end of the island are coordinating their efforts to distribute food, increase outreach, and promote fellowship:
- Effective January 3, SABTS is merging with Grateful Hearts.They will be providing hot meals every Tuesday and Friday from the SABTS campus, along with a food pantry where clients can take all the food they need.
- Holy Family will continue to operate a food pantry on Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.
- SABTS and Holy Family are jointly creating materials in Spanish and English that will be handed out at apartment complexes in the south island community to draw more clients.
A guide to finding food distributed by Second Helpings’ agency partners is above.
“The number of food insecure people on and around Hilton Head Island is large and the need is growing,” said Marcus Tanner, Second Helpings Executive Director. “We are pleased to partner with these dedicated agencies to serve their clients and to reach out to others who also need help. In addition to a broad assortment of food, some of these agencies, like Sandalwood, provide paper products, diapers, laundry detergent and other essentials. And several agencies, including Deep Well, Holy Family, and the Boys & Girls Club, offer afternoon food distributions to meet the needs of those who work during the day,” Tanner continued. “We are working to expand our agency partner network on the Island to further assist people in need.”
